The Patea Mail. Established 1875. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1883. THE NEW MINISTER.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1111, 12 November 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1883. THE NEW MINISTER.

Perhaps no appointment that has eve r been made has been more universally condemned than that of Mr Mitchelson to the position of Minister for Public Works. The claims of Auckland to representation in the Cabinet have been strongly urged by the Northern press ever since it became known that Mr Johnston had determined to resign his portfolio and proceed to England. We are not amongst those who believe that Ministers should be selected for the Colonial Government from provincial districts, solely because the said districts, clamour for; representation in the Cabinet. Belter by far take the ablest men irrespective of the locality to which they belong, Bnt the system of Government under which we live demands that the loaves and fishes should be scrambled for, and it is thought that unless there is somebody present to take a hand in the game, the spoil will not be equally divided. This is a lamentable state of things, but nevertheless true. Then too. Ministers are not proof against pressure, and if a howl is raised for “representation” in any quarter they are bound to listen to it or run the risk of losing their scats. Well, the cry was raised in Auckland properly, and accordingly the Premier journeyed thither to see if he could not “ give the poor dog a bone.” The bone has been given in the person of Mr Mitchelson. That gentleman has been a member of the House of Representatives for two years, bnt hitherto he has given no sign of ability to do anything beyond holding his tongue. The N. Z. Herald claims for the new Minister that he is a discreet and sensible man, and having served his apprenticeship as a carpenter has thus had the advantage of a mechanical training. Ye Gods, what a recommendation for a Minister for Public Works ! Served

his time ns a carpenter; but we are not told how long lie worked at his trade. Cat-pe'nteHng is a very honorable and useful occupation, -but if it is a leading ~ qualification for Pablic Works Minister there most be thousands of men in the colony who can- give Mr Mitchelson “ points ” and bent him easily. The whole thing reminds us of the excellent advice given by Sir Joseph Porter in the last verso of his famous song. We look upon this latest shuffle of the Ministerial cards as a very blind deal. We wish the Government well but fear that when the House meets ngain 'Ministers will find their colleague anything but a trump card. His respectability is of course unquestionable, but his ability has not been discovered by anybody except the Premier and his colleagues whom ho consulted by telegram before throwing the hnnkerchief. What an observant lot of men they must be ?