WHY THREE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 9

WHY THREE?

MINISTERS FOR OTTAWA.

DOMINION'S DELEGATION

WIDESPREAD DISAPPROVAL.

"LEADERS LEAVING THEIR POSTS."

Strong disapproval of the Government's decision that three of its principal Ministers shall head the New Zealand delegation to the Ottawa Conference is expressed editorially by the leading Southern newspapers. "In times that were anything like normal the attendance at Ottawa of tho three strongest members of the Ministry would have been a proper tribute to the importance of a- great Imperial occasion and an earnest of tho Dominion's desire to play a worthy part in it," says the Wellington "Evening Post." "But it is astonishing that Ministers should, of all people in the world, need reminding that these times are not normal. . . . There is no reason to expect any alleviation of the burdene during the next few months. . . We have no desire to exaggerate tho difficulti l "* or to suggest that "there are no other good men in the Cabinet, but we should be failing in our duty if we concealed our deep regret that under these conditions Mr. Forbes and Mr. Coates ehould have* elected to leave their posts together for three or four months, and our hope that some excuee may yet be found for changing the decision. . . Except for tho moral effect gained by broadening the basis we can see no reason whatever why Mr. Downie Stewart should not have been allowed to represent the Dominion alone." with the help of Dr. Crais, the Secretary of the Department.

The "Post" adds: "The Government would have better consulted its own dignity if it had put its foot down months ago on the combination of sectional interests, political antagonism, and personal ambition which sought to defeat the unique official and personal claims of Mr. Stewart. A politician who dicdaine to advertise or to pull wires is at a great disadvantage in these days, but" the public are relieved to know that sheer merit has nevertheless kept the one indispensable man in his proper place on the Ottawa delegation." Mr. Coates' Ambitions.

The Dunedin "Evening Star" says the inclusion' of Mr. Coates with Messrs. Forbes and Stewart will be a surprise only to those unfamiliar with the extent of his ambitions. The portfolio of Employment has not thus far been an easy or pleasant one, and any prolonged absence of its holder before the new schemes are properly under way suggests that his sense of responsibility has been outweighed by other considerations. Mr. Ransom is likely to find that his resumption of the Public Works portfolio will be far more difficult on the relief work basis than when he administered it under ordinary conditions. Though it is unlikely that Parliament will sit during the absence of the delegation, the residue of the Cabinet remaining in New Zealand is likely to have its hands extremely full, and few people will envy Mr. Ransom his temporary leadership. "Ought to Review Position."

The Wellington "Dominion" says, inter alia: "Even were conditions normal, such a Ministerially-overweighted delegation would have called for remark, but the times are far from normal. With problems of unemployment on our hands, and the difficulties of the coming winter likely to be acute, the simultaneous absence from the country of three leading Ministers for an appreciable period will weaken the Cabinet to an undesirable extent. Seven Ministers will be left to look after the affairs of the country and to deal with any serious emergency that may arise. Two delegates, the number the Australian Federal Government at latest advices was reported to be sending, would have been ample. Before committing itself further in the matter the Government ought to review the position and make arrangements more likely to be in accord with public opinion." " Serious Weakening."

The Christchurch "Press" says: "The personnel of the New Zealand, delegation to the Imperial Economic Conference Iβ a striking indication of the importance which the Government and people of New Zealand attach to the occasion. It is doubtful if New Zealand has ever been represented abroad by a delegation better qualified to speak for her, and: it would certainly have been difficult to find a better one at the present time. It is necessary to face the fact, however, that the strength of the delegation, which includes the leading figures in the Government, implies a serious weakening of the Government during the period of their absence." Cabinet's decision cannot have been lightly taken. "Three months ago such a decision would have been, impossible and wrong. Now, during a period of suspense, when the effects of a rapidly-framed and vigorously implemented policy are being awaited, it is bold, but judiciously bold." Unwise Course.

Opinions have been expressed oy newspapers in the Dominion as follow:—

The "Christchurch Times" says: "So far as the personnel of the delegation is concerned, the decision of Cabinet that both the Prime Minister and Mr. Coatee should be absent from the Dominion at one time is not, in our opinion, a wise one. It is particularly open to criticism at this time when the unemployment problem is acute. The Dominion could surely have been adequately represented without taking the leading three members of Cabinet away at eo difficult a time."

The "Otago Daily Times" says: "It was obvious that Messrs. Forbes and Stewart should, if available, be members of the. delegation, and most people would probably have been satisfied if the representation of the Government had been confined to them. It might have been supposed that the demands made on Mr. Coates' time in his capacity as Minister of Employment would have prevented him from absenting himself from the Dominion during the winter months, and we are not at all sure that he is acting wisely in allowing himself to be included in the delegation."