AUCKLAND'S NEW MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 101, 27 April 1912, Page 10

AUCKLAND'S NEW MINISTER.

_ • ■*■" \': J■ ■ ; NO BACKSixDISG QS DEFENCE. (By Telegnpa.-Bpeclil to "Star.") ..!~. : . this -day. \., The. complimentary "gathering of Auckland citizens: in honour of the new Minister for '' Finance, Railways, and Defence has suggested 'to. the "Evening . Poet" another-rcview -of the Hon. A. M. Myers as : a r '-Cabiset,-Minister.~\A.- preliminary suggestion of wonderment that a gentleman of only two years-Parliamentary experience should have l»:en loaded "with the responsibilities taken by Mr. Myers is : followed by the suggestion that it may be! taken for granted that one of these portfolios soil be -passed on "to somebody else when, .the. .vacant seat in the Ministry is nlled. ; - :j 'Etat •.-thongh the intimate practical * acquaintance ' of 'Mr. ' Myers ' with, commercial and'municipal: finance raises a strong presumption ■■- of his fitness to -ideal with the departments of Finance and •Railways,' - continue* -tse-- ,£ Poet," "there 3 a strong and widespread feeling that he "cannot be ' spared ' from the Defence Department. So far he ie the only Minister who has made his. mark, and that he has done ; as Minister .for Defence, immediately after the. weakness of his predecessor had excited serious apprehensions for the. success of the scheme of military training. . This uneasiness mc increased by the weakness -of , several members of the present Cabinet in the same respect, but Mr. Myers has made it perfectly plain that he will be no party to the backsliding that these colleagues of his nave been supposed to contemplate. It is mainly on account of the defence scheme that the country as a whole is able to join in the enthusiasm with which the citizens of :4.u.ckTanci greeted Mr. Myers." ." "" "