THE CABINET COMPLETED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 8

THE CABINET COMPLETED.

As was anticipated, the Prime Minister has completed his Cabinet by the appointment oi Mr. K. _. Williams, member for the Bay of Plenty, to the charge of the Public Works Hep u-tmeiu. Mr. Coates is thus relieved of his heaviest burden, the only heavy load he retains being the Ministry ol" Hail ways. This, in association with his duties as leader of the Cabinet, is quite enough for any one man to undertake, and -Mr. Coates is snowiug wisdom in not attempting to follow in Mr. Massey's steps by retaining control of a whole series of busy Departments in addition to the duties of the Chief Executive. It is probable that Mr. Coates will be able to continue his supervision of the Railways without undue strain, especially as he has already largely reorganised the Department and appointed an ellicient and well trained advisory board. The improvements which have been effected in ihe service since Mr. Coates began his reform scheme have brought about a regime of business methods and commonsense which has proved of very great value to the public and the service alike. Under the circumstances, it is satisfactory that control will remain in the hands of a Minister who has so successfully reformed its methods. Mr. Williams, the new .Minister, is one of the most popular members of the House. He has not been prominent in its debates, but he is a back blocks member with long experience of local bodies, and he knows the needs and possibilities of the roadless or illroaded areas. Sympathetic consideration will undoubtedly be given by him to the demands of the men out back, within the limits of the resources placed at his disposal by the Minister of Finance. Numerically the Cabinet is stronger than it has ever been: it now includes thirteen members, including the Leader of the Legislative Council. The growth of Departmental business justifies the extension, but the distribution of the portfolios is such that no member is now unduly loaded, and with the close personal atrention that Ministers are now able to give, it is to be hoped that the country will at last ~-e .something of that economy of administration upon which such emphasis was laid by the head of the Government last year, but which has not so far materialised. In spite of its numbers, however, Mr. Coates' team has no jrreat debating strength. Its power in this respect is diminished by the absence of Sir James Parr, no such ready debater being among the new selections. Few of the Ministers are particularly adroit at the thrust and parry, which is one of the main features of Parliamentary sittings. Across the gangway, in the Labour opposition, are a number of men who are fairly gifted in this direction, men who seriously prepare for the business of the House, and the Ministers will have to develop stronger qualities of attack and defence than some have exhibited in the past.