THE NEW ORDER.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 118, 28 January 1926, Page 4

THE NEW ORDER.

OF equal importance to the announcement of the new members of tne Cabinet is the intimation of the -nine Minister of the change in the duties of the head of the State. Ever ' - iK 'e the days of that mental and physical g-iant, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, it lias become a custom of administrators to weigh down the capable man with the innumerable duties of seve-

ral important portfolios. The Opposition have inveighed against the practice; but when the Opposition

came to the seats of Government it happened sooner or later that they fell into the same bad ways. Usually with the coming into being- of the Cabinet there was an approximately even proportionment of the portfolios, but as Ministers went out of office from various reasons the burden was placed on the strong men’s shoulders.

The fact that in the Massey Cabinet there was a time when Mr. Coates had thrust upon his shoulders the portfollios of Public Works, Railways, and Post and Telegraph may have made him realise the burden, and brought with it the determination, if his chance came, of breaking- away from the custom. The Prime Minister’s idea that he should be free of the details to attend to the broad principles of Government is sane in theory and should prove sound in practice.

The determination of the Prime Minister may be said to mark the first step in a new order of things. The next advisedly might be to curtail the number of deputations, which has grown to an abuse. Encouraged during the days of the Seddon regime as a manifestation of the doctrine “ govvernment of the people, by the people, and for the people,” it has assumed such dimensions as to place a burden on the political lives of the members of the Cabinet. There is no exception to a Minister coming in contact with the people, but if he is to attend to his duties he cannot be overburdened with deputations. At times Ministers have protested; it has even been suggested that under-secretaries should be appointed. But nothing eventuated. On the most trivial excuse a deputation waits on a Minister. Somewhere a line must be drawn. Will Mr. Coates draw it?