OVER,WORKED. THE POSITION OF MINISTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1908, Page 7

OVER,WORKED. THE POSITION OF MINISTERS.

nON. R. M'XAB ON THE SUBJECT. [Bt TELEanAPn.] (From Our Special Reporter.) TAIHAPE, This Day. In responding to tho tosst of "The Ministry" at a complimentary d.nncr given by tho Ohakune Progressive Association, ths Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister of Lands, dealt with Sir J. V/ard-'n recent pronouncement in regard to un increase of members of the Ministry, and stated that if statistics wero taken of the fate of loading public men of this country, it would be- found that the death-rate of late years was greater than almost any profession which could be named. If similar results followed the occupation of mining, whether for coal or gold, or "took placo amongst sailors, a- cry would bo raised from one end of the colony to the other, and l'ariiament would be forced by legislation to cope with the evil. The mero fact that it took ptace in the- highest body of servants in the country wan no reason why thp attention of the public and Parliament itself should not be directed to tho cause, and that cause be either reduced or minimised. He thought that &• reduction in the number of deaths might be. brought about by increasing the number of members of the Ministry, especially cs every year saw departmental increases which must result in political heads of departr ments being increased., The Minister's duty was not to carry on the actual administration ; he wr.s to be- the voice and directing head representing the Parliament and the representatives of the people in canying out tho policy Which they decreed, should be the policy of this country. The carrying out of tliat policy in its detail should be done by the Civil | Service of tho country. He thought also, in connection with tlio representation of the backblocks, that as a result of past experience the' process of natural selection had gone on eliminating the professional man who carried on politics a3 a pestimo, and substituting men who realised tho gravity of their work, and devoted their whoia energy and attention to, th.c voicing of tlje wanss of their constituents ; and he felt that it aided them in their work if the Ministers visited tho ' backblocks and Baw what members had represented by word of mouth. He congratulatad the district on the possession of members of tho stamp of Messrs. Remington and Jennings. i