The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1919. THE MINISTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1919. THE MINISTRY.

The most significant feature of the reconstructed Ministry is the deposition of the Hon. W.. H. Herries from the portfolio of Railways and the assumption of control of this important department by the Prime Minister himself. The change was urgently needed, for the collapse of the railways, explain it as they may, was due primarily to the incapacity of the Minister in charge. Anyway, the public will accept no excuse for failure of the railway service, believing, rightly or wrongly, that hud an energetic and business-like man been in charge there would have been no closing down of services so necessary to the life and progress of the country, Mr. Massey lias allowed Mr. Herries to retain the Department of Native Affairs, but he would have consulted the wishes of the country more had he relieved him even of this unimportant portfolio, as well as relieving Sir William Fraser of Public Works, to do justice to which is quite beyond his ability. Sir William is nearly eighty years of age, and it is surprising .he has done as well as he has, but the country is faced with so I many questions in which the Public I Works Department must necessarily play an important part that it cannot tolerate at its head an octogenarian who manifestly is out of touch with the necessities of the times and the progressive policy that must tie followed if we. are to meet our obligations. It is a question now of national interests rather than of party interests, and the country desires to see in charge of the various State departments the very best men available. It cannot be said that the Premier, in re-allotting the portfolios, has been guided by this desideratum. He has acted on the old party lines of ( jelwtioji. men, ngt Bfl tbek merit*, faui

on their past services to him personally and to the Reform Party generally. The result is a Cabinet which is probably the weakest that lias ever governed New Zealand. Fortunately, the Liberal Ministers left their work well up to date, and the various Bills practically prepared, or there might be serious dislocation. Sir James Allen is probably the strongest Minister under Mr. Massey, and stands best with the country, notwithstanding his evident unpopularity with a section of the Reform Members of Parliament. Though he is by no means a brilliant administrator, he has done his work well and conscientiously and overcome difficulties in connection with the administration of the Military .Service Act and- the carrying on of our part of the war that no other Minister lias ever been faced with. He has been given the important portfolio of Finance. Mr. Myers and Sir Joseph Ward left everything clear and straightforward for him, and for that reason his duties this session will not be onerous. On the previous occasion he was at the Treasury Sir James Allen was not a conspicuous success, and now that the financial problems are so great, the whole development and progress of the country'being dependent upon their successful solution, the best financial brains in the country are needed at the head of the Department of Finance. There are, it must be admitted, not many men in the House who possess the necessary attributes for the position, and Mr. Massey's choice, therefore, was very limited, and seeing that Mr. Wilkinson is dropping out of politics—at great loss to the country, we may add—ho probably could not have done better than appoint Sir James Allen, who might with advantage now be divested of the Department of Defence in favor, preferably, of Mr. J. B. Hine, whom we are pleased to sec in the Ministry. It is a long time since Taranalci had a member in the Ministry, and it is due to the province, the most progressive in the Dominion, that it should have representation. Apart from this, Mr. Hina deserves well Crf his constituents, as well as of the country, for the reason that he has served, and with considerable success, with the Dominion's forces. a{ the front, and can be relied upon to promote the welfare of the returned men and act as their mouthpiece at Cabinet meetings. Weofferhiinourcongratulsttions and good wishes, and only regret that he is not associated with a stronger team that could command the confidence of the country and possess the ability to rise to the occasion in this vital period of reconstruction. Mr. Nosworthy and Mr. Coates are both untried, men, from a Ministerial point of view, but their inexperience may be in their favor. At any rate, they could hardly be less efficient than several of those who are -till allowed to cumber the Treasury Benches.