HOW IT IS DONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 23 June 1923, Page 14

HOW IT IS DONE.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS. A LIVELY INTERCHANGE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The method of appointment of Government nominees <•» "arbour boards was mentioned by the Hon. <:. T. Anderson, Minister of Marine, who was asked by Mr. Masters why lie had not given ihe discarded Government nominees a ciiance to stand fnr election. The Minister said he was making provision in the i>ew Harbours Bill to avoid anything of that sort occurring again. A member: Oh., you did it, then? The Minister said if the bill passed the Government appointees would be announced a month or six weeks before the election. He admitted that "tins si ould have applied in the recent cases, and its omission was probably a weak point. Mr. P. Fraser: Was Mr. Vigor Browns appointment disinterested 1 Mr. Anderson: Quite. (Laughter.) It was done for the good of the district. Mr. Frase.r: A remarkable coincidence. Mr. Anderson: Every man I have recomiuended and who has been appointed has proved worthy. Mr. Fraser: Napier showed what they thought of him. Mr. Masters: What was wrong with Mr. King, chairman of Sir Joseph Ward's committee at Tauranga? .Mr. Anderson replied that when Sir William Merries was alive representations that the personnel would have to be altered wcru made by a man who afterwards was one of Sir Joseph Ward's chief supporters, and that was tin; most peculiar part of it. Mr. Wilford: Yes? Mr. Anderson: Yes. just about as extraordinary as the Leader of the Oppo-i-ition's speech in the opening debate. Mr. Anderson declared that he did not inquire into the political views of noiniMenihers: Oil, go on. and laughter. Mr. Anderson: The Liberal Government has never appointed a non-sup-porter to any office. Mr. Wilford: Xot true. Mr. Anderson: Tell mc of one. Mr. Wilford: I can do so easily. Mr. Anderson: I know of none. Mr. Wilford: I do. 'Mr. Anderson: I watched carefully. Mr. Wilford: That shows you did not. Mr. Anderson: What has the present Government done? Members: Goodness knows. Mr. Anderson: In harbour board nominations right through the country polilics have not entered into the question. (Laughter from Opposition members, and '"Give us a chance.")