MINISTER WHO DOES NOT WORRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 145, 18 June 1912, Page 8

MINISTER WHO DOES NOT WORRY.

j HON. \V. O. S. MACDONALDS j OPESTONS. (By Telegraph.—Special io "Star."") WELLINGTON", this day. Amid the clash of conflicting opinions, rumour, and prophecy of political destruction there is one man at least who is fairly unconcerned. He is the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. P. S. MacDonald. who is too busy to be worried with the uncertainties, and he frankly said so in discussing the prospects nf the session with mc to-day. ■„ "I have not thought out the question of what is going to happen when the session starts." faid Mr Mac Donald. "I have found that my duties in connection with the Public Works. Native and Valuation Departments takes up all mv time. Although 1 have been able to travel over a small portion of the North and South Islands to see the construction I works on roads and railways in progress. ,' I have not been able to see many place. I would like to have visited. I would not feel justified in my position of Minister of Public Works in bringing before Parliament a Railway Authorisation Bill unless I was thoroughly acquainted with all the projects and tbeir paying possibilities. Telegrams and letters have been reaching mc daily from all parts nf New Zealand, urging mc to visit different localities in connection with roads, railways, and bridges. This occurs on on-" hand, while on the other we have a section of the Press crying out about Ministerial trips. The position is really that I should do more travelling. "You ask mc about the prospects of the session. Well. T am nnt worrying about it at all. Members of the Liberal and Labour party combined when the Ministry was formed and agreed to supI port the party. If they have changed their views since then that concerns themselves, and will, of course, concern their constituents who returned them as supporters of the Liberal party." 'Ministerial life is not so easy and attractive that you would continue on any terms." 1 suggested to the Minister. He promptly- concurred. "1 feel, - ' he said, "that my position as -Minister of Public Works" and Native Minister is a heavy task for anybody, but these particular matters have engaged my attention for the last thirty years, so they do not come with exceptional difficulty to mc. .But the tremendous amount of correspondence and the large amount of work ou hand necessitates the Minister's whole time being given to carrying out the duties to the satisfaction of.the country, so that if he has in addition to be worried about the political support from bis own party then, of course! —and I say this unhesitatingly — the game is not worth tbe candle. I have heard no complaints from any member of the Liberal party or any statement as to tbeir intentions when the House meets, so that I am able io carry on my work without-any worry."