WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 March 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MINISTERS’ TRl£ HOME. • RETENTION OF SAMOA. WELLINGTON, March .f? Last night at the congratulatory meeting of Mr. J. P. Luke’s supporters in the recent hy-clection in Wellington North, Mr_ Massey touched upon the approaching ministerial trip Home and emphasised afresh the importance of New Zealand’s views in regard to the retention of Samoa being strongty represented to the War Cabinet and the Imperial Conference. The Minister’s’ remarks wore not intended for publication, the gathering being a private one and purely of a social character, but those who were present understood from what was said that Parliament would bo asked during the short session to strengthen the hands of the Dominion’s delegates with a strong resolution on the subject. Probably there would be a little opposition to the passage of such a resolution hut it is not unlikely some disgruntled members of the House will against the two party leaders again being away from the country for an indefinite period when, as some of them are saying, one would be well able to do all the business there is to he done.

DUAL REPRESENTATION,

Ministers have not yet deigned to formally answer criticism of this kind, doubtless preferring to reserve what they have to say till the meeting of Parliament, but in political circles here it is generally recognised that Mr. Massey’s presence in London is required as Prime Minister of the Dominion and Sir Joseph Ward’s as Minister of Finance. Had Mr. Massey been Minister of Finance as well as Prime Minister, or Sir Joseph. Ward Prime 1 Minister as well Minister of Finance, there might have been no need for the dual representation of the Dominion, but as it is no other satisfactory arrangement seems possible. Mr. Massey is going with authority to speak for the Government, as a whole and Sir Joseph Ward with a knowledge, of the financial problem, in its broad Imperial aspects, that none of his col- 1 ' leagues 'possesses. The suggestion that’* the’- two loaders are leavingtogether-■ because neither could : trust the Other in his absence might have had somp point a couple of years ago, but flay.it. can have none. ,■v-jr

PUBLIC SERVICE CONTROL

; The Hon. J. A. Hanan’s remarks at Hamilton the other day . concerning the Public Service Commissioners have' excited a good deal of comment, .varying in tone from warm approval of the. Minister’s courage to strong con-, demnation of his indiscretion. The Commissioners have not been growing in favour in Wellington durig the last year or two, which, of course, may he to their credit rather than to their discredit, but it was not expected a Minister of the Crown without consultation with his colleagues would express himself as frankly as Mr. Hanan appears to have done on this occasion_ There is a suspicion aboard, however, that other Ministers, not all on the Liberal side of politics in former days, are disappointed with commissioner control and quite prepared to return to the old order of things. It is stated, indeed, with some colour of probability, that a change in this direction will take place directly other provision has been made for the chief commissioners. THE CABINET. A more disturbing rumour has to do the strained relations between certain members of the Cabinet, which were known to oxist four or five months ago and now are said to have assumed a more acute form. The “Evening Post” in congratulating Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward upon, the loyal and cordial manner in which they held together throughout the contest in Wellington'North, hinted at a less admirable attitude being maintained by their junior colleagues and so set tongues again wagging on the subject. The dissensions, such as they are, would seem to be rather personal than political, arising, perhaps, out of the neglect of some tiny courtesy or consideration which may appear all Important when politicians of widely different creeds are banded together for a common purpose. Anyway there is no danger of an embarrassing crisis arising. The robust commonsense of it leaders is the saving grace of the* combination.