FORMING A MINISTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10607, 13 April 1912, Page 5

FORMING A MINISTRY.

A DISAPPOINTED MAN. The Duuedin Star tells the following story :—The formation of a Ministry was going on, and everybody with a chance of a portfolio was anxiously standing by the telephone. One of tho questions was as to who would get the administration of the Labour Department.' v. Four men's names were prominently discussed as possible. Of the four one alone held the confidence of Labour. The Labour people saw him, to put him on his guard against accepting an offer if made to him'. Such an appointment, they represented, would be disastrous to tho Labourinterests. "If they make you a Minister of Labour, Tom, our party will be hobbled. - Instead of holding the ' balance of power and being'in'a.posi-.' tion to dictate terms, we shall bo; dragged afbout at tho heels of the Go-; vernment.'' It was expected. that tho 'gentlemani. addressed would at once f strike a.n> attitude.-aiid.'declare.that he ; would ba no party to stich a - sidetracking of La'bour, What he did do, in fact, was to smile and make a short speech, in effect as follows: — "Look here, Jack, you're drawing a nice salary out of your billet in the Public Service, and you, Dan, seem to bo snug im your appointment, and I notice that Steve, draws his cheque regularly without having to turn out .at daylight. Now, where do I come in? I tell you plainly, gentlemen, that if I'm offered this rise T'm going to take it." The joke is that he' wasn't offered it. Where did all ,tliis occur. Let us say, to. Hayti. It is as good * place in this weather,as many others. •