THE NEW CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 318, 8 January 1909, Page 3

THE NEW CABINET.

MR. MASSEY>jI VIEWS. APPEAL TO THE ( IJXTHY PREBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. Interviewed Jate to-night' upon the personnel of the uew v Cabinet, Mr. W. F. Mas.sey. leader of the Opposition, *aid the appointments came as a surprise to him. just as In* supposed they would come as a surprise to most people. / **l think," said Mr. Massev, "the appointments indicate the difficulty the Premier has had in filling up the vacancies in the Cabinet. I am perhaps mors surprised at Mr. McGowaifs withdrawal than anything else that int's taken place. This seems to me to indicate that he, Tor one, is not satisfied with the new order of things, and 1 really do not wonder that such is the case. As for i their political principle*. 1 cannot understand by what reasoning the new men have been chosen. Mr. Hogg', for in-i stance, is almost what Sir Joseph Ward J calls a revolutionary Socialist, in noticing Mr. Hogg's appointment as Minister for Customs I cannot help recollecting that iu the last Parliament he was' tiie nio-t strenuous advocate for taking the duties off flour, wheat and other cereals. Whether the responsibilities of office will modify bis views on these matters or not remains to be seen. i predict, moreover, very lively times for the Labor Department with Mr. Hogg at the head of it. !

The two McKen/.ics are individualists, and how they will work on the land question with such nven as Messrs. Fowhls and Hogg—one an extreme single taxer and the other an extreme land nationalise!*—l cannot possibly imngiir. Mr. Buddo's politics are not particular ly veil defined, and 1 have no doubt he will lind himself ready to go with the majority in whatever direction it feels inclined to travel. "Mr. Ngata lias always been dead against the settlement of the nativ , lands by European settlers, except as tenants of native landlords, and i take it his appoiutiueut means that there will be no satisfactory settlement of the aiative lands while he is a member of the Executive.

"The taking over by Sir Joseph W avd of the Departments of Land, and Agriculture eau only be a temporary arrangement, as that gentleman has no knowledge of either one or the other. As regards -Mr. .Millar, taking over the Department of Railways, 1 tuink that out of the present Cabinet he is probably tile best man fitted to the position. "I cannot imagine how a Cabinet composed of so many conflicting elements ■will work together, and 1 think time will prove that the old .saying that 'a house divided itsclt cannot 1 stand' will again come true. Whether Parliament and the country will approve of the new'departures i am not able to say. Personally, lam very j strongly of opinion that the new Cabin- i et la uo improvement on the olity I, think it will be seen that the Prime? Minister bas tried to please too many, and has pleased very few. 1 should not be at all surprised to see an appeal to the country long before the ordinary term of the present Parliament has expired."

MR. -McGOWAN'.S REASONS I'Olt | KEXUUNG. It would have been ridiculous to ask the Hon. James MeGowan if his retirement from the Ministry and appointment to a seat in the Upper House was due to the state of his health. Mi.Mcliowan, who is always well and vigoious, never looked better or more active thau when a Dominion reporter called upon him. "I ain retiring to give somebody else a show,' he said, tseyond that, lie did not care to talk about his resignation, but he gave the reporter to understand that he had acted quite freely in the matter. He was not so much attached to the sweets of ollice as to be unable to enjoy life in a comparative private capacity, lie rather thought lie would live in Wellington for the future, and he looked forward to having a good time. "1 hare been in the House since 1.5d1," said the retiring Minister, "and 1 have been nine years in the .Ministry. I have bad charge of many important) measures, some of which have been of great beiielit to the minors ami other classes, tint I'm not prepared just now to "o into history. I have born member for°Thnnu'S all the time I have been in Parliament, and my constituent* weio the first to In- informed of my resignation.'' At this point -Mr. Mctiowan placed his hand oil a pile of telegrams. "These have come from the Thames t)ii - afternoon. They are asking nie to continue to be their member, but my eision is final." PRESS OPINIONS. The Dominion (Opposition) Taking | the re-constructed Cabinet as a whole, we can find little cause lor congratulating the Prime .Minister or the country 1 the re-arrangement made. Sir Joseph Ward may liave had inferior material to work on, but we doubt whethei he has made the best use of the material available. Individually, the new members of the Government are hardly likely to inspire any great confidence in the oiliccs to which they have been appointed. At first sight the only changes ill the distribution of portfolios winch make for improvement arc those of Railways and Justice. The former Department badly requires attention, and Mr. Millar may prove himself capable ot instituting reforms which are so urgently needed. Mr. MeGowan caa nardly be said to have made a success of his tenure of ollice as Minister oi Justice, and Dr. l-'indlay should be much better equipped for the position. \\ c bcli"\c that the condition of Hie police f< rtw of the Dominion ia far from satisfactory in several respects, and the new Minister of Justice can with advantage devote his special attention to this particular section of the Department under Jus charge. Cut apart from these two changes and Hie possibility of Mr. i. Mackenzie infusing some life into the at | preseut useless Industries and Comi'liierce Department, there is little cause for satisfaction in the rearrangement ( I made. The Liberal Party, looking bat-k ( on the names of the men who hare from ( time to time guided its dcstinies'ni Parliament, must realise the falljng away in the calibre of iLs leaders; /and the country as a whole must feel that tlisrc is something wrong in our system of Government when the higliest offices within the gift of the people are placed in the hands of men who, however admirable their personal qualities may be, have shown so little/evidence of possessing even the elementary qualities of statesmanship. ... The XJS. Tillies .(Government) Viewing Cabinet as i.t stands to-day after re-construction it seems a reasonable verdict to say that, in point of debating power and administrative ability, it is "the strongest Ministry New Zealand lias had since tin- Ballancc regime of seventeen years a;;o. Looked at from the. angle of thc y party consideratinn it reveals a conittnatiovi «trorcjr in •il] tlir elements that ; go towards the 1 maintenance of a progressive Liberal po-lii-v Contemplated inrtiviiUrally the Ministry will app™l to the confidence of the 'electors by the proved capacity and earnostno.-s of its personnel. 11l making worth and ability to discharge the ditties of important ollice the standard of selection the. Prime Minister has not. apparently, found it necessary to strain geographical J-mi-odcrations in the selection of his colleagues. Sir Jo | sepli Ward has acted wisely. He; ilnw | shown a keen regard for having the at'- | fairs of State placed jn worthy hands, a'lid the result is one; that must bo I gratifying to his supporters in all parts of the Dominion. . / . . Sir Joseph Ward's statement that lie would like to have lx'en able to inciudc in the Mi'iistrv some of the other able member', of his parlv is under the ciTcumstnnce- a natural 'expression of regret; but we cannot see that by nnv process of selection he could liave gained bettor nsiill, frian he has, or given more satisfaction to the country. The taxpavers wail! above all things an assurance that the State departments shall Ire administered by men who are a»ie to displav accept responsibility. 'They have that now. . THE THAMES SEAT. After Mr. McXab's defeat for Mataura seal in November, the late Minister Lauds .stated that he would (•Jilted the first vacancy that offered,! i,',it would not allow any member to stand down for the purpose of giving bim an opportunity to regain his seat i„ Parliament, The first vacancy has arrived in the resignation, of the lion. Mr MeGowan, and the question now arises: Will Mr. McXab Untcst the Thames seat! 11. is somewhat significant in this regard (sa.vs tlic\ Dominion) that in the ro-distributioi) ofj portfolios ' the Prime Minister has Jiiiiui.xed those of Lands and Agriculture jlateH> held bv I Ml-. McNab. The result jof tli6 recent I election at the Thames was as follows: I Hon J- MeGowan (G.) 38(59; TCj, Decblc (T) R37: 0. Mason <L) Hfll; F. Isitt (P.) 120; majority, 2033, J