The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1931. THE MINISTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 289, 7 December 1931, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1931. THE MINISTRY.

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Two names are mentioned for the Cabinet vacancy caused by the defeat of Mr. David Jones—Mr. A. D. McLeod, ■who was Minister of Lands under Mr. Coates and was unseated in 1928, and Mr. R. A. Wright, who was Minister of Education in the same Ministry, and is the only Coalition member in the Wellington city area. There are two reasons why Mr. McLeod should not be chosen. He was a failure as Minister of Lands and he is a farmer. The Cabinet is already overwhelmingly rural in interests and sympathies, and the city clement in it needs strengthening so that the case for business men and town dwellers generally may be adequately stated and their interests safeguarded. For this season Mr. Wright has a stronger claim, but his ability does not seem commensurate with the needs of the hour. The selection for this post, and for any extension of the Cabinet that may be agreed to, should be made —apart from the consideration we have stated —strictly on the ground of merit. We are glad to see that the Christchurch "Press," a staunch "Reform" organ, insists that in making Cabinet appointments the I Government should rise above party. "The country expects and needs the strongest Government that can be found, and as the new House is not rich in talent, the choice must be free " The new Cabinet "must show no signs of party cleavages or divided leadership." It follows that any attempt to win a Cabinet position on the ground of long service to Parliament and party should receive no support within or without Government circles. Indeed, there would be something both amusing and grave in the spectacle of an M.P. and his friends trying, at this critical stage in our history, to climb into the Cabinet room up the ladder of seniority and party service. A TARIFF WAR. The French Government promptly countered the British Government's Protectionist intentions by levying a special duty of 15 per cent on British goods. It is true that, from the point of view of sentiment and national feeling, this treatment seems a poor return for the freedom of Britain's markets which France and all other foreign countries have so long enjoyed. And from the standpoint of abstract equity it is absurdly unjust for the French or any other foreigners to resent the withdrawal of the privileges that Britain's Free Trade policy has conceded to them in the past. But the whole question is j not a matter of sentiment, but of business, and France's practical protest against Britain's threat must be regarded as simply a natural and inevitable incident in the daily life of a Protectionist, world. Every Protectionist tariff is ultimately fixed as the outcome of a long series of threats an*d retaliations, of concessions and compromises, and the French Government would, fronv its own point of view, be neglecting its obvious duty to its people if it did not make every possible effort to induce or persuade or compel Britain in this read justment of fiscal policy to pay special attention to France's interests and claims. Germany and the United States have already threatened reprisals of. the same sort. This is probably only the first skirmish in a prolonged and-dubious tariff war; but it must be remembered that Britain, simply because she starts without a long list of import duties already scheduled, is far better armed than her antagonists. She has far more to offer than they can afford to lose, and therefore she is more likely to emerge victorious. SPOILING THE DOMAIN. We publish to-day some opinions about the proposed road through the Domain which should help to kill a most objectionable project. The road would encroach upon one of the most beautiful and quietest spots in the Domain —one, indeed, that is unique in the city —and the argument that the bush in this gully is hybrid is no argument at all in favour of destroying the beauty of the place. The grade of the road would be steep and the traffic would therefore be noisy, which would spoil the quietude of the secluded part. If it is desired to improve traffic ways through the Domain, the present drive from Stanley Street could be improved, but to give more encouragement than this to through traffic to use the Domain would not be wise. The Domain should be a place of rest and recreation, not a thoroughfare. It is. a priceless asset to the city, but its area is small and has already been seriously encroached upon, and every fresh road cut through it means less bush, less beauty and less quiet for those who like these things. This road, therefore, sjiould not be built. .. - THE PRIME MINISTER. This morning the "New Zealand Herald" 'reproves the "Evening Post" for what it regards as disproportionate praise of Mr. Forbes' leadership in the national crisis. Such emphasis on Mr. Forbes' part in the fight, -it says, "is to be regretted as inimical to the harmony that should obtain between the parties," and "to pedestal" Mr. Forbes "in special splendour is not justified by facts." One might say quite a lot about this line now taken by a paper that has persistently "played up" the Reform Party, and especially its leader, for weeks past. .One might mention Rotorua and Roskill. But one may be content with reminding the "Herald" that, however much it may dislike the fact, Mr. Forbes is head of the Coalition and Prime' Minister of the Dominion. As such he is entitled to be singled out for praise, just as, if the Coalition had failed, he would have been blamed.