Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1938. LEADERSHIP IN AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1938. LEADERSHIP IN AUSTRALIA.

JTONEST surprise appears to have been occasioned in Australia by the limited nature of the changes made by the Federal Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) in reconstructing his Cabinet. The Attorney-General, Mr R. G. Menzies, is taking up the portfolio of Industries as an additional responsibility The Defence portfolio is being- divided between its present holder, Mr 11. V. C. Thorby, and a promoted junior Minister. A little new blood has been- introduced and the six senior Ministers —amongst them Mr W. M. Hughes, who gives the impression in these days of ploughing a rather lonely, furrow —are to constitute an inner Cabinet.

It is fairly obvious that Mr Lyons has. gone no furtner iii change and reconstruction than he felt himself compelled to go and it has yet to be made manifest that his new dispositions will satisfy even his (own supporters, some of whom have been urging that several Ministers be dropped and replaced by members now occupying places on the back benches of the Federal Parliament. Account has to be taken also of the real or supposed ambitions of some of the leading State politicians, notably Mr B. S. B. Stevens', Premier of New South Wales., and Mr R. L. Butler, who has just resigned the Premiership of South Australia in order to contest a Federal seat.

Whatever the extent to which the position may be complicated by personal and political rivalries, it is agreed that Australia, at this stage of her fortunes, vitally needs able and efficient leadership and is called upon to build up all her resources with unsparing energy ’in face of momentous, faireaching and possibly menacing changes in the aspect of world affairs. The manner in which the '' Australian Government grapples with its problems cannot but be of intense interest to New Zealanders in view of the extent to which our own ultimate fortunes are identified with those of the Commonwealth,

Some offence was taken in this country recently at a remark attributed to the Federal Minister of Defence (Mr Thorby), but repudiated by him, that New Zealand was the weak link in the chain of Empire defence. Any talk of the kind would be something worse than a waste of breath, for there is little enough doubt that in the world of tomorrow Australia and New Zealand will stand or fall together.

Essential demands of the' moment in both our Dominions are for adequate defence preparation and for the economic development, and expansion of population that will make security possible. The allocation to Mr Menzies of the portfolio of Industries in the reconstructed Federal Cabinet derives significance from declarations he has made of late that Australia must set no limits to the development of her secondary industries.

We have a responsibility in common with other British people (he said in a speech delivered a wefek or two ago) of remaining sane and becoming strong in a rather mad world. If we are to become strong and be ready for any emergency that may confront us, we cannot achieve the objective simply by rearmament in the strict sense of the term, but by developing all our resources of‘man power and financial strength and reaching the capacity of selling to the rest of the world. We cannot do those things to the full degree unless we decide that in future there will be no academic argument about secondary industry, but a resolute declaration that we will expand our industries in the next fifteen years as they have never been expanded in any corresponding period before. ,

Whether the Federal Ministry as it is now. reconstructed is capable of inspiring full confidence and giving the lead that is needed, remains to be seen. The enterprising national development outlined by Mr Menzies in any case most certainly is demanded, in Australia and in New Zealand, as a condition of continuing security.