The Daily News THURSDAY, JANUARY 7. THE NEW MINISTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 317, 7 January 1909, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, JANUARY 7. THE NEW MINISTRY.

The reconstruction of Sir Joseph Ward's Cabinet, rendered necessary by uie appointment of the lion. W. Hall-Jones to the High Conimissionership and the defeat at the general election -of the Hon. i{. ilcNub, is a subject that has excited an amount of interest scarcely secondary to the election itself. From Hie outset it was recognised that the PrcI niter's task was an extremely delicate one—the necessity on the one hand of giving satisfaction to the country as a whole, and on the other of satisfying his Parliamentary followers. It would be idle to assume that universal satisfaction has been given, but it was obvious from the outset that some of the members who possessed g'ood chii'ins for preferment must be sacrificed. Speculation has principally centred round the probable successor to the Hon. Mr. McXab as Minister for Lands. The Premier's solution of the difficulty is certainly in the nature! of a surprise, but on Uial account is not the less likely to be accepted with confidence. As the virtual author of l tie Advances lo Settlers and one ol the most zealous supporters of liie erstwhile policy of the late Sir .John Mackenzie, irrespcclive of the amount of knowledge gained by the l'remiev on the laud uuesiion since- lii- advent to power, it is doubtful if a stronger up- I pointineut could be made. Sir Joseph vYard is certainly to lie congratulate 1 ■on his courage iu apportioning iu Himself the most dillicult ami at the same time most thankless portfolio in the Cabinet, and in so doing lie has undoubtedly strengthened his position iu the country. We look forward with j confidence lo the land settlement of the country along progressive lines uiulit the initiative and administration of the new -Minister for Lands. The Premier retains the important portfolios of Finance, Defence, the Fostiuiistcr-Cicnernl-ship, as well as the subsidiary departments connected mainly with the land. I Writing some necks ago on the uuesI lion of Cabinet reconstruction, we anI licipated the retirement of the Jlon. A Jas. Metiowan. Although a successful I admin,slralur, it would lie idle to ali linn that lie was a popular .Minister o! I the Clown. In a democracy it is almost essential that responsible Ministers should be iu touch with the people, and able to take the platform throughout the country in educating the people to Stlie policy according to which the country is being governed. Especially now is it necessary in the interests of the party in power that Ministers should be able to publicly defend their policy. I Judged by results, we should say that public speaking was distasteful to Air. McGowau, who retires, however, with an. enviable record of public duty faithfully performed. Three vacancies thus had to be filled, and the Premier further decided, as he has several times indicated, to increase the strength of the Cabinet, the work of which lias enormously increased within recent years. Five new Ministers have thus been appointed, while there has been a general re-distribution of portfolios. As was generally anticipated, the Hon. J. A. Millar relinquishes Labor and assumes control of the Kailways, while retaining Marine. The Hon. J. Carroll' retains the portfolios of Native Affairs, and. Stamps, and assumes control of the Advances to Settlers Department and the new but necessary Department for the control of our important dependencies—the Cook Islands The Hon. (.!. Fowhls retains control of Education, iu the administration of which he has been singularly successful. Immigration, Hospitals and the Fire Insurance Department have also been placed under his charge. The Justice Department is one that has for long reijuircil a change of head, and the selection of tile lion. Dr. Fi ml lily for this highly-important office appears to be particularly appropriate. All the important legal departments of State have now been centralised under one Minister, and the administration should benefit by the change.

Of the new Ministers, all are wellknown throughout the Dominion. The new .Minister for Public Works and .Mines, the lion. Roderick McKeuzie, member for .Motucka, has a long and useful Parliamentary career to his credit, and was Chairman of Committees last session. A robust personality, a vigorous speaker, and a man of sound comiuonsense, he is a Minister that should serve the country well, provided he throws his undoubted ability, knowledge and energy into his work. His success is entirely in his own hands, and we have enough faith in his .strength of character to believe he will rise superior to weakness. The lion. A. W. Hogg, the new Minister for Labor and Customs and ltoails and Bridges, is one of the best-known Parliamentarians in the North Island, and his inclusion in the Cabinet occasions no surprise. A legislator of somewhat advanced views, lie is endowed with plenty of sound comiuonsense. As a country member, moreuver, he is particularly well informed of the necessity of a vigorous roads and bridges policy, and liis appointment to that ollice 'will be well received. The J lon. D. Buddo, although not so well known in this Island as .Mr. Hogg, is generally recognised as one of the soundest members in the South Island. As the representative of Kniapoi. he has in a measure been somewhat over,liadoived by the more vigorous member for Lyttelton, .Mr. Laurenson, but his claims far preferment in the selection of the Cabinet has been recognised from the outset. He becomes Minister for Internal Affairs (the Jiortfolio previously held bv the Hon. Dr. I'indlay), Minister for I'iiblie Health, in charge of Old Age Pensions, and of the Valuation Department As a farmer, with a practical knowledge of farmers' views of valuation, iiis appointment to the charge of the latter Department .should be received with confidence.

The Hon. T. .Mackenzie has probably been the most discussed of all the aspirants (o the Cabinet vacancies. None ijiicsUoiie.il his undoubted qualifications, for selection, but there were, and no' doubt still are, not a few who resent the preferment of one who has so recently thrown in his lot unreservedly with the dominant jiarty. Always a Liberal, closely in touch with commerce, the laud, and the man on the land, he had for some time occupied a position in the House not dissimilar to that of, .Mr. llalUo'iies, who, prior to liis selection for Cabinet rank by Mr. Seddon, was ploughing a somewhat lonely furrow of independence. It was anticipated that .Mr. Mackenzie, would he chosen to succeed .Mr. .McXab ill charge of Lands, and 'no doubt the appointment< would hare been well received. There is no doubt, however, that Mr, Mackenzie, than whom no member in the House lias a more thorough knowledge of our markets, will infuse (practical li?e

into Hie Department of Industries am Commerce. He lias had a. wide experi ence of trade, and particularly trade h our staple products, both inXew Zealand and representing' New Zealand in tere-sts in London, and his knowledge will now be turned to profitable account. Equally is his selection to lake charge of the Tourist, (Scenery and Forestry Departments specially appropriate, Mr. .Mackenzie being known in Otago for his active participation in exploring in years gone by the wilds and I lie for-st country of the South, and his interest in that direction and in all'orcstation has never weakened.

Tin- remaining mcjnbor of the new .Ministry, the 11 on. A. T. N'gata, reprc scntativc of tiic Eastern .Maori riisrrtrf., is ii young llanri of recognised ability. As co-commissioner with the Chief .lu'sticc on the Native Lands Commission, iie lms rapidly won his way to the front. Kmbodying tlie qualilications of 11 lawyer, scholar, author, and orator. | his lirillialley is unquestioned. Added to his exceptional knowledge of native affairs, and particularly native land, to the speedy settlement of which he has

consistently and vigorously devott himself, it is unlikely that any qneslb wilt tie raised respecting the wisdom ( his appointment. There is none of th proverbial "laihna" about Mr. \>at; who is full of energy, and an oulstain injr example of what the native race i capable of accomplishing. As we state, at the outset, the new Cabinet appear to iiti to be a strong one. individually and collectively. At the same time, wi hud hoped room might have been fou'.n for the representative fot- Tiimnanimii Mr. \V. T. Jennings, whose claims have been almost universally recognised by .he Press of the Dominion. The more vi'ominent of the others having claims or selection, a7id who have been passed iver, are Air. Lnureiisoii ami Mr. liaiiuie, nit we would not like to slate that ithcr gentleman' would be an improivicnt on the appointments made.