THE NEW MINISTRY IN VICTORIA.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7731, 10 December 1890, Page 5

THE NEW MINISTRY IN VICTORIA.

A Melbourne correspondent has the following respecting the gentlemen who compose the Victorian Ministry-:—**■ Mr ' Munro, the new Premier, is an elderly Highlander and a self-made man. He is said to be a descendant of the typical' Scotchman who prayed for 'a prude conceit of himself.' He is burly and grey' haired, is devoted to, and very prOuct of,j his wife. His motto is ' Dread God.' He! is best known as a teetotaller, and his'ex- j treme views on the liquor laws, as well as a not precisely angelic temper, 'are said to haye 1 always hitherto kept him' out ot the Ministry. He began life as a. compositor in a well-known Melbourne ~ printing establishment, and while so employed became fascinated with a book', of building society rules, 1 and determined to found a building society of his oWxL The founding of the Victorian Permanent Building Society was the result of this. resolve. Successful land' speculations laid the foundation of his wealth,-and equally successful business 'speculations' made him a moneyed man. ' Rumor declares that he will be a mil-' lionaire shortly, but rumor usually looks at a wealthy man through rose-colored spectacles. The Federal Bank was also established by Mr Munro. Hib. experiences as a financier are Varied, and he ha- usually been successful in his business affairs. Mr Shields, who is to - reform the railway service; is well known through his Divorce: Law Amendment Bill as a champion of women. He is a. clever barrister, fairly youngj and, like the; Premier, devoted to hfs • wife. Mr. Shields has only been for ten years in Parliament, while Mr. Monro's Parlla-; mentary experience dates from 1874. Mr. Langridge, the new Chief Secretary and. Commissioner of Customs, began life as a builder; and became a master contractor.; and an auctioneer.' He 7 has represented Colllngwood in Parliament' for nearly twenty years, and a man who can satisfy the electors of that extremely democratic suburb, must be a democrat at heart. Collingwood is the St.- Gilesof Melbourne/ It is a low-lying district, filled with small' cottages and- shops, famed for .their' cheapness, and dear- to smaLT bargainhunters. Mr John Duffy becomes' Postmaster-General. , He -, is the eldest son of, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, and though born in Ireland, is practically, an* Australian, aa he has lived all his life in Melbourne. He was trained by his father in politics from his earliest youth, andentered Parliament after having passed as a lawyer. The new Minister for Lands,' Mr Allan McLean, has been, the champion ,of the selectors of Gippsland during: his Parliamentary career. Mr Graham, the , Minister for Water Supply, is an honest, elderly farmer, and ,is to be the champion of the farmers of Victoria, Mr Wheeler is to be the Commissioner of Public Works.. Mr Frank" Stuart and Mr Peacock, who hold portfolios, withoutomce, have always belonged to the /youngs Australian portion of the Legislative Assembly. They help to give the new Government .its national character. Sir Frederick. Sargood is to manage the Education Department. Mr Simon Fraser, Mr J. M, Davies, and Mr ; C. J. Ham are the. remaining; members: ot the new Government. The Puritanical element is decidedly strong In jtt.