CABINET VACANCY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1921, Page 7

CABINET VACANCY.

WHO . WILL BE CHOSEN? The resignation of Sir William Berries has led to the Wellington Evening Post. to join in urging the immediate appointment of a new Minister. But the Wellington journal goes further than other newspapers, and, without mentioning. the name, delicately indicates its preference for Mr. J. P. Luke, the member for Wellington North. ■ It says:—“The selection will present many difficulties, as custom decrees that North and South Island shall be balanced, and past service. recognised. Not with the intention of raising an issue of town versus country, but so that it may not be raised in the future, we would suggest that, personal merit being equal; the new Minister should be one who represents a city constituency. In tlw present Cabinet Mr. Parr is the only member of the House who represents a large centre of population, and has wide experience of public affairs from the city point of view. There has been a tendency lately to raise this city-country issue. It is undesirable in’polities 'and a fatal division for the ccjuntry. It cannot be evaded, but it may be avoided. If care is taken to see tlfat the view of the large centres of population is placed before the Government in the Cobinet room there will be less tendency for the division to become apparent on the floor of the House, and thence to spread throughout the country.” To this it may be added that care should also be taken to see that the vacant portfolios are given to the most capable man available, whether lie represents town or country, North Island or South.