A “CABINET” DECISION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 102, 24 January 1930, Page 13

A “CABINET” DECISION

Sir, —In view of the approaching meeting of the United Party to discuss Mr. Davy’s charges against the working of Cabinet, among other matters, it might be possible for some light to be thrown on the following action of a Cabinet Minister, Mr. Atmore. The facts are these: In the “Nelson Evening Mail” of September 3 last year, the first paragraph under the heading “Local and General” stated that at a meeting of the College Board of Governors, held on the previous day, Mr. Atmore, in referring to mental hospital property, announced that Cabinet had decided that no further building was to take place. A month later the head oflice of the Mental Hospitals Department heard of this quite accidentally, and as no notification of any such decision, amounting as it did to. a complete reversal of policy. had been received from the Minister of Health, inquiries were made. Mr. Stallworthy gave a categorical denial that any such decision had been made by Cabinet. . . . Under the present regime such conduct is apparently of no moment so long as office is held and Cabinet is “United” —outwardly, at all events. I can quite believe one of yotir recent correspondents thinks the party will be happier without Mr. Davy. It must be most unpleasant to have anyone in a responsible position courageous enough to sneak out against the queer and devious methods adopted by the party under him; no doubt it is much more conducive to general felicity to have some pliant twig who will bow to anything so that the party may remain in- office “United.” — I am, etc., PUCK. January 21.