THE PUTARURU PRESS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1928. WARDS CHOICE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 266, 13 December 1928, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1928. WARDS CHOICE.

’Phone 28 - - P.O. Box 44 Office - - - Oxford Place

WITH promptitude Sir Joseph Ward has announced his Cabinet. Taken as a whole the personnel should appeal to the country as a workmanlike combination with a good leavening of trained businessmen. Notable acquisitions are Messrs. Taverner, de la Perrelle, Donald, Cobbe and Stallworthy, who strike the imagination more than some of the old hands such as Messrs. Forbes and Veitch. These fiye members should infuse new life into Ministerial activities, which for a decade have been marked by a barrenness of idea. The apparent weaknesses of the Cabinet .may be summed up under three headings : (1) Over-represent-ation to the South Island, an eight-six proportion being a fairer distribution; (2) an over-representation of the towns as against the country ; (3) the appointment of Mr. Forbes as Minister bf Lands.

In regard to the first two it may be argued that the best men should be chosen irrespective of locality, and this of bourse is an ideal with which we are in hearty agreement. Facts have to be faced, however, and the financial burdens of the South Island, as witness losses on the railways and unfair distribution of road moneys, and the recent cry, for higher protective tariffs by the towns, suggest that this minority Cabinet must walk

warily. . v The most outstanding weakness is the appointment bf Mr. Forbes as Minister of Lands. So far the political career of the member for Hurunui has been somewhat colourless. The holder of this most important portfolio should have above all the quality of imagination with the necessary driving force and ability to carry a courageous new policy into effect. The appointment of Mr. Forbes suggests that the land policy of the new Government will depend mainly on the provision of cheap money and the breaking up of large estates. The office of Minister of Lands is generally regarded as the prerogative of the Prime Minister’s first lieutenant, and it would seem that this fact, has been largely responsible foT Mr. Forbes’ appointment. Much mord than experience as a farmer, however, is necessary for success in this department, and a business organiser of Mr. Donald’s stamp would have seemed preferable, at this period of the country’s existence, to a .man whose political career to date has been flat. A.

Above all',* New Zealand’s great need at the moment is a man who can induce all eyes to be focussed on the land—the foundation of New Zealand’s prosperity—who can raise the standing of farming and frame a policy ' which "will induce our own school products to take to the soil. It may be that we condemn hastily, that Mr. Forbes and his fellow members realise this national need, that they intend to cater for it. We sincerely hope so, for on a realisation of.this point of view we believe the whole future of New Zealand depends. Our land policy should not be one of haphazard growth ; it should be one of steady effort to promote the basic belief that farming is one of the greatest, healthiest and most important of.all businesses-.