WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MINISTERIAL TRIP HOME. REARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS. | (Our Special Oorresepondent.) Wellington, May 1The prompt announcement of the rearrangement of portfolios made- necessary by the impending departure of the Finance for London is a healthy sign of the times. On the last occasion on which Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward went Home they had been away from tlie Dominion for two or three weeks 'before the public were allowed to know, officially, they weje not seated in their offices administering their own departments, and several months elapsed before it was generally known Sir James Allen was filling the position of ActingPrime Minister. .But in the light of experience all this futilo pretence has been abandoned. It was known on Monday night how the party leaders' work would be distributed during their absence, and the information appeared in the newspapers of the following morning for everyone to read. THE ACTING-MINISTERS There is not a great deal in the rearrangement of portfolios that could not have been easily foretold. The heaviest additional burden, of course, falls upon Mr. Myers, who obviously is the only Minister remaining behind capable of looking after the Treasury during the absence of his chief. Mr. Guthrie will bring plenty of enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge to the Lands for Settlement and Soldiers' Land Settlements Departments, and Mr. MaeDonald will be warmly welcomed back to the Board of Trade and will <'»} satisfactorily all that is required of him as PostmasterGeneral. Mr. Herries's tact and firmness already have stood him in good stead as Minister of Labor, and Mr. Russell's marvellous capacity for work will make light of the administration of the Government Life Insurance Department and the Public Trust Office. THE SECOND DIVISION. Probably the'authors of the disgraceful scene in Christchureh at the assembling of the first section of the Second Division to go into camp will take somo credit to themselves for the increased separation allowance sanctioned by the Cabinet some days ago. As a matter of fact their dephvable demonstration had nothing whatever to do with the increase, which was simply the fulfilment of a promise made by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance some weeks ago. The member for Lyttelton appears to have been laying the blame for the delay upon the shoulders of Sir Joseph Ward, but the truth of the matter is the Minister of Finance has been particularly active in getting the new regulation through, wishing, of course, to make his word good before leaving the Dominion. OF GOOD CHEER. The parting words of both Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward on the eve of their departure for the Old Country were full of reasoned optimism. The Prime Minister, while recognising the enormous difficulties confronting the British and their Allies on the Western front, entertained no shadow of doubt of their being ultimately overcome. As for the Dominion, its prosperity remained unimpaired and its faith and loyalty unshaken- The Minister of Finance struck the same note with equal confidence. The nation was passing through a great' crisis, unparalleled in its history, but it would emerge from the furnace strengthened in purpose and resolvo and all the better qualified for the realisation of its high destiny. Faith, constancy, effort, and sacrifice were the services required from the people, and with these success was assured.