The New Ministers and Ministry.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 63, 9 August 1906, Page 3

The New Ministers and Ministry.

(Wellington Correspondent.)

The new trio, Messrs Fowlds, McNab and Millar, I have watched for years from my eyrie in the gallery, and though a mere woman must speak diffidently as to political opinions, she, has a keen eye for physical peculiarities or beauties. Mr Millar is a big burly man with reddish hair, fast turning grey and falling. He was Chairman of Committees and has had trying times keeping his unruly flock in order, but in that position, and as an expert on shipping and labour matters, he commanded great respect., Mr McNab is/ needless to say, Scotch, and is also reddish and bald, but wears his baldness undisguisedly. At : present he is delightfully brown from his travels, and his blue eyes look absurdly, vivid in the tan of his face. He is the most eligible parti in the House, and consequently of much interest to the Ladies' Gallery. But he appears to take more interest in historical records and, does not find "his books in woman's looks." However, there are thrilling possibilities about Mr McNab that render him an important figure holding a portfolio, in addition to his prestige secured by his researches, his money, and his pleasant personality, one is tempted to exclaim —in the words of his native bard —"Wha' cud resist the laird wi' a' that ?" Mr Mr Fowlds, trim-bearded, and also reddish, has the pleasantest of voices, which at times smacks of the pulpit. He is tremenduously in earnest over various hobbi.es, but appears to have a calm equable temperament that should serve him in good stead as a Minister. All three men strike one as solid, steady, thorough-going individuals with no exciting possibilities of revplt or eccentricity about tlsem such

as gives food for 'copy. Sir Joseph Ward himself is the very pleasantest and most tactful cf men. in his own house he is a perfect .host, and not only makes his guests enjoy themselves but he enjoys himself as well. He can sing, dance, and tell a good story. Lady Ward as * hostess is quite as charming, and Miss Ward is a most accomplished musician with a lovely contraltb voice. Altogether, the household of the new Premier is a very attractive one.

In reply to a Star reporter, Mr Jamea Allen, member for Bruce, said : " I think Sir J. G. Ward has made the strongest selection he could make out of the material available, but, as I heard the Ministry described this inorning—-and, as it seemed to me, appropriately—they are a job Jot, in this sense : that from what we know of them, some are Single Taxers, some Freeholder?, and some Leaseholders. I think that a strong man whom they have omitted to take in is Mr Hogg. He is a man with very clear ideag upon land questions and educational- questions, and, I should say, a strong man. 1 think that the Hon. Mr Fowlds is a very earnest man —one wiih queer opinions, but no doubt he will do bis best tor education. The Hon. Mr Millar is undoubtedly a strong ninn—one of the strongest on that side —and if ho only works he should make an extremly good Minister. He is cautious—cautioi a in words, a* any rate—and if to that he now adds caution in deed 3 he will strengthen the Cabinet on the financial Bide. The Hon. Mr M'Nab is an educated man, and if he lives up to his educational training now that he has repomibility, he ought to develop into a good Minister. But 1 agree with Mr Mossey that we do not yet know what his opinions are on any question scarcely. The Rev. J. Dawson, chairman of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance, when questioned as to the views of his party on the new Ministry, expressed satislac;ion, but he thinks the Prohibition party wus enitled lo representation, aud while not expecting favor from Messrs Hall-Jones, M'Nab, and Fowlds, it hopes, seeing that it is such a force in the country, for fair play The alliance represents roughly 200,000 voters, and a man or men who sympathise with those voters should not, provided he possesses character and ability, be disqualified from taking Ministerial rank. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones was a prohibitionist long before he became a Minister, and that fact did not hinder him serving nis country efficiently. Three prohibitionists in the' Cabinet would do no harm to New Zealand, and even if all the Ministers were prohibitionists the cause need not receive favours that were not desind by the people. The general opinion in Wellington seems to be that Sir Joseph Ward has. selected the very best Ministry possible from the material at his command, and it is felt on all hands hat the administration of the departments will be now much better attended to than it has been for years past. Summed up, the position seems to be that the public is satisfied with the personnel of the Ministry, and is now anxious to be enlightened as to its policy.