THE MEW CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 233, 30 March 1912, Page 5

THE MEW CABINET.

By Telegraph —Pres6 Association. Christchutrch, Friday. Mr. G. Witty, member for Riccarton, was invited to join the Ministry, but J declined. Surprise is expressed locally at the number of Canterbury Ministers, but the Ireception of the arrangement on the whole is cordial. Wellington, Friday. A meeting of the newly-constructed Ministry was held this morning, and discussed matters in detail, including the allotment of private secretaries. In denying the statement that he demanded full Ministerial rank, Mr. Ngata informed the Post that he had neve'r made any such demand. "My desire to retire from a position as a member of the executive was," he says, known to Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Carroll, Mr. Mackenzie, and' my Maori colleagues many weeks ago, and I strongly urged my friend Te Rangihiroa's claims to succeed me." THE PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS. Wellington, Last Night. Interviewed by a Post reporter this afternoon as to whether he had a manifesto to give the public, the Hon. T.' Mackenzie replied: "No. I have been so fully occupied that I have not thought of any political manifesto. However, I can say that we will devote ourselves unsparingly to the closer settlement of ou'r country, to the development of our agricultural and pastoral interests, to forwarding our mining, and to promoting and fostering ou'r trade manufactures, both here and abroad, and to improving the conditions of our people. We desire to settle down to solid work, to deal with questions which really affect the progress of our country; to give, in shdrt, practical substance and not party shadow, The count-"- has for the piast six months been ir ' -->■ throes of political unrest, and v lieve that the people are ■tired- of t -rtv wranglings which have been g. ;on to the overshadowing of the proper considc'i-a-I tion and promotion of great national inI terests, interests which we should all have so closely at heart. I have confidence that the people of this Dominion will appreciate a party that will quietly and resolutely settle down to doing the ; work the eount'ry requires to be done. ■ My colleagues, although new to Ministerial rank, are well known as zealous j and capable public men, who have filled many important public positions for years past. They are also recognised as enthusiastic men, who will bring their best energies to bea'r on the departments committed to their care. All I ask at this time is that the people of New Zealand should suspend their judgment until the new administration has had a reasonable opportunity to justify its existence. If that is done, I have ito fear of the result." ALLOCATION OF SECRETARIES. Wellington, Last Night. The following is the allocation of private secretaries to the new Ministers:— Mr. L. Johnson remains secretary to the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, and has with him Mr. H. Grocott. who was till latelv with Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. F. Thomson, lately with Hon. J. A. Millar, will be attached to Hon. A. M. Myelrs. Mr. F. Matthews, lately with Sir Joseph Ward,, and with him Mr. Balneavis, lately with Mr. Ngata, will be attached to' Hbni W. D. S. Macd'onald. Mr. E. Poulton, lately with Sir J. G. Findlay, will be attached to Hon. G. Laurenson. Mr. J. Black, late!with Hon. D. Buddo, will be attached to Hon. G. W. Russell. Mr. W. Crow, lately with Hon. G. Fowlds, will be attached to Hon. G. Ell, who, it is understood, will relieve Hon. J. Colvin of the duties of Postmaster-General. Mr. J. McAlister, lately with Hon. H. MeKenzie, will be attached to Hon. J. Olvin. The other appointments have yet to be made. INTERESTING INTERVIEWS. Christchurch, Last Night. Mr. George Witty. M.P., who returned this morning from Wellington, was asked, by a reporter for his opinions regarding the new Ministry, but he declined to criticise Mr. Mackenzie's selection. Asked why he himself had been left out of the Ministry, Mr. Witty said, "I had an opportunity to join, the Cabinet, but I declined." He was asked if he would give his reasons for Refusing office, but he would not allow himself to be drawn. Mr. G. R. Whiting, who was the Labor candidate for Christchurch South in opposition to the Hon. H. G. Ell, made some interesting comments about the new Cabinet. "Viewed from the standpoint of labor," Mr. Whiting said, "the new Cabinet is very little, if any, better than the old' Cabinet. There may be new ministers like the Hon. G. Laurenson and the Hon. J. A. Hanan with progressive ideas, but on the other hand we have a Prime Minister who, I understand, is a free trader and freeholder. That is not at all satisfactorily from our standpoint. As one who has taken a great interest in political questions for many years, and as one desirous of seeing the conditions improved for the masses, I do not think that any Ministry will be satisfactory to the great body of the workers other than a Labo'r Ministry. The fight of the future must be between Labor and anti-Labor." Mr. \ir lilting said that he did not think that the Labor members would support a general no-confidence motion against the new Ministry unless the defeat of the bovemment would result in a more progressive Minist'ry taking charge. The new Ministry appeared to be a compromise between the freeholders and the leaseholders. The last-named could expet nothing from the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and the freeholde're could not expect to realise their goal under a Ministry which had apparently compromised on the land question. His opinion was that matters political would remain in a very unsatisfactory condition until there was another appeal to the country. That ai>pea he believed, would have to be made m the tiea'r future. tt m Timaru, Last Night. The Hon. T. Buxton has received many congratulatory messages. Interviewed, he said he accepted office in the hope of being able to usefully serve the farming community. He mentioned especially the reciprocal traiff with Australia on farm produce. If offered a portfolio later he would prefer that of commerce and agriculture. Mr. Buxton lias been urged to accept nomination for another term as Mayo'r of Temuka but has declmcd.