What Makes A Minister?

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30313, 13 December 1963, Page 16

What Makes A Minister?

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 12. The qualities the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) looks for in choosing members of his Cabinet are set out in some detail in the current issue of “Political Science,” published by the School of Political Science of Victoria University. The article, written by Mr Holyoake, is based on a talk that he gave students last year. Mr Holyoake writes: ‘"The first things one looks for in a prospective minister (there are many things, so I am not going to rank one higher i than another) are ability in debate and, in general, a good platform manner and he must have a certain popularity not only in his own electorate but throughout the country. “A likely minister must, of course, be respected within his own party. One looks for a man who has not become too involved in factions!

within the party which arise from time to time. “If a member of Parliament passes these tests, he is weighed again on his capacity and ability to be the political head of a department of State.

“Usually the person selected has over the years of membership in Parliament specialised in the sphere toward which he ultimately gravitates as minister, although this does not necessarily apply. “The most important factor is to get people who possess original ideas, original thinking, initiative and sound judgment.

“However, I must admit that geographical considerations do play a part. “The number of members of the Cabinet is left entirely to the discretion of the Prime Minister and is a subject that is open to criticism from both the public and the Opposition. Usual contentions are that the Cabinet is too large or too small or not widely enough spread. "Speaking from my own point of view, I say quite frankly that my selection of ministers resulted from a long study of my colleagues. I looked at each colleague and his capacity and how he would fit into the team. I (questioned myself whether he

would be more suitable in another role, how his selection would affect others if he were given a certain portfolio here or there or somewhere else. It took long and earnest consideration before a Cabinet was finally selected.

“The Prime Minister has the power to advise the Governor-General to withdraw a ministerial warrant, in other words, to sack a minister. This rarely happens.

“It is not possible for me to go into all the details of the procedure of selecting Cabinet ministers, but you now have an insight into some of the problems. The most difficult things are personal decisions, not so much the difficulty of selecting men, but the difficulty of leaving others out—others with almost equal capacity to meet the requirement of the post. “Of course, you become very close personally to the members of your Parliamentary team. Over the years of fighting together, arguing with one another in caucus, working together in the House and elsewhere, day and night, you can become very close indeed and it is not an easy thing to pass over men of great' capacity and ability." ,