AN OVERBURDENED PRIME MINISTER ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 354, 15 May 1928, Page 8

AN OVERBURDENED PRIME MINISTER ?

Sir, — In connection with the recent decision of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Won J. G. Coates, to assume the burdensome portfolio of External Affairs may I suggest that the leader cf the Reform Government is somewhat inchned to tempt history to repeat It®el£Jr I*, wq? l be recalled that Sir J. G. Ward inbibed the habit of assuming portfolios, and what became of him? To 'f. aJ be ! s a lonely wanderer in the politica l wilderness without the possibility of returning to the Treasury benches that knew him so well. In addition to the Prime Ministership. Mr. Coates is Minister of Railways. Minister of Native Affairs, Minister in Charge of Public Trust, Native Trust and the Scientific and Industrial Re - search Departments. Now he takes over the External Affairs Department without relinquishing any of his other offices. Probably, in its history New Zealand lias never known a more mediocre Ministry than the present Cabinet. Sir Joseph Ward, like Mr Coates, was an able Minister under a strong Prime Minister. He, too. inherited the leadership of a party far too numerous for his own good as its

leader. Though nothing is more certain that the Coates Government will return to office after the approaching elections, it is equally certain that it will do so with a reduced following. In attempting to carry too much on his own shoulders, Mr. Coates may lose that personal touch with his party so essential for successful ’eadership, at any rate, why not let some of his Ministers take their share of the load? NEW ZEALANDER.