THE INDIVISIBLE MINIMUM

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 49, 21 November 1928, Page 13

THE INDIVISIBLE MINIMUM

Sir, —Believing my theories unpalatable to many I have withheld them so far, but the infinite variety of gestures hazarded by the crowd seem to leave me very far behind in divergence from the direct line to the goal. Sir Joseph 'Ward has reached the meridian like the rocket, the Prime Minister down to it like the stick. A close examination of the detail of political difference reduces that difference > the indivisable minimum, Tlie Prime Minister has claimed the debacle to have been party and not personal, but who constitutes the party? The man who claimed to be an optimist on the merit of his own measurement of his own capacity. If that analysis makes the situation clear the moves will not be' hard to arrange. The country’s interests come first before person or party. The gaps in Cabinet, in view of tlie relative proportions, are too formidable to warrant filling without assembling the people's new representation. The Prime Minister will fill the gaps, Sir Joseph Ward will follow as night the day with his formation. On the sweet reasonableness of his attempt will hang the destiny of the new Parliament. I suggest that he invite the lion. Mr. Coates to take up the responsibility of the 11. IT. Sterling appointment. The Minister of Finance could be left in charge of his Department, being a young man and the “'Wizard” old enough to recognise that the freshness of youth helps to reinvigorate age. The Hon. Mr. 'Williams is not negligible as a Minister of Public Works. Sir Joseph Ward Prime Minister ami the remainder nicked from his party. The above is founded on the theory that despite slight superiority in mensuration the psychology of the event makes it impossible for Contes to absorb Ward, while it would be a graceful concession on the part of both in the reverse. —I am, etc.,

HENRI’ BODLEV. Wellington. November 20.