WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3504, 5 June 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

‘ THE PRINCE ’s BREAKDOWN.

NEW 2rl:.~\LA.l~¢D’s RESPONSI. BILITY.

(E-ilm.-':‘.l Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Julie 4.

There are some pi-ickings of conscience here ineonnection with the Prince of VVales’ nervous exllau‘s‘.'inu in Australia. The “I-told-you-so"’ people are recalling the warnings they uttered’ while the royal visitor was passing through New Zealand. No robust man of mature age, they now feel privileged to say, could have gone through the task thrust upon the Prinee\by an inconsiderate Government and a thoughtless people during his tour through the Dominion without suffering the severest physical and nervous train. The trouble began at Auckland, was continued at Rotorua, intensified during the trip to VVelYington, and reached its climax in the capital city. It is known that while here his personal attendants protested mildly against the hard work that was being imposed upon the Prince, but the sorely tried young man would not hear of. any modification of the official programme being made on his account, and the breakdown in Aus-' tmlia is the result. ‘ V ' NON-POLITICAL CONTROL.

Some days -ago it was stated in one of the newspapers that Mr Massey had admitted the failure of the commissioner control ofthe Civil Serivice and would get back to the old lsy-stein of control as speedily as possible. This liioining through the columns of the Dominion, he gives the statement an emphatic denial. “It is." he says, in a phrase which in political cflircles is taken to be equivalent to calling the.other fellow by a very hard name, “entirely contrary to fact.” “A Bill,’’ he goes on to explain, “is at present being drafted by the Law Dtafting Oflice, and will be submitted to Parliament during the coming session, which will -strengthen the existing law with regard to nonpolitieal eontrolrand which will remedy eertain defects in the. Civil Service Act itself.“ But whifle still championing .‘ ‘ non-political ’ ’ control with all his former ardour, the Prime Minister seems disposed‘ to somewhat niodify hispcarlier interpretation of, the term. M .

EXCEPTIONS.

In his statement this morning, Mr Massey mentions one or two exceptions from the operation of the Public Service Act. “In saying that,” he adds to his previous declaration,4""l stand by what I said to the deputation which waited upon me some six weeksago, to the effect that the Government should be consulted in regard to the Administrative‘Division -of the Public Service, which is practically restricted topermanent ‘heads of the Departments.” His critics already are jibing the Minister with 9having abandoned a very material part of his ‘former platform and they are not discumfited by his retort that he is considering the “possibility’l’ of bringing the Public Trust Office and the Post Office under the provisions of the Act. These two offices have been exempt hitherto because it was felt the nature of their business was unsuitable for commissioner control. It is not expected in well-informed circles that any change will be made.

CABINET MAKING.

t When Mr. Massey set about recon~ ~stl'uot.ing his Cabinet after the dis-‘ ‘solution of the National Government, it was expected in political circles that Mr. J, A. Young, the member for Waivkato, would be among the younger members of the Reform Praty_'selected for promotion. Mr Young has not only claims but also qualifications for a place at the Cabinet table and some disappointment was felt by his friends when he was overlooked at the last distribution of portfolios. It is reported new from a usually well-in-formed source, however, that when Sir William Berries retires, as he. may at any time now, Mr Young will come into his dues and be given a wider sphere for the exercise of his ability and industry than he has yet enjoyed. Mr. Young has not been among‘ the obvious seekers after oflice and he has none of the showy qualities of the politician, but lle.is an indefatigable worker and his promotion would be generally popular. .