THE VACANT PORTFOLIO

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 10, 11 July 1912, Page 7

THE VACANT PORTFOLIO

A good deal of interest is being displayed in tho matter of the allocation of tho vacant portfolio, which Mr, Massey, as reported above, says will not bo filled for some time. In some quarters Mr. J. 13. Hine is being Mentioned as the next Minister, but there are others who believe that the choice will fall on a man who has not so far been mentioned, and that is Mr. David "Buick, member for Palmerston North. Mr. Buick is *> native-born New Zealandor. Ho wafe born at Karori in 1848, and has been & Fanner all luk life. Perhaps he is olift of the most successful small farmer* in New Zealand, and the complaint that (he small f armor is not represented in the Ministry would bo eliminated by his appointment, though Mr. Ma*soy dealt with thai point yesterday aftorucon. In agricultural matters he am bean one of tho leading figures in the Manawutu for many years. Speaking of Mr, Buick's qualifications for office, a ( member who is intimately acquainted with Mr. liuick, to-day pointedout to a reprofientativo of this paper that he is at the present moment vice-presi-dent of the Mnnawattt Agricultural and Pastoral Society," and patron of the Manawatu Racing Club. Bo was first chairman of the Kahwnga County Council, and initiated the Man&watu Drainage Board. Before he went to Mauawatu be initiated the Petono Town Board, now the Petone Borough Council. In earlier years he was president of the Wellington Agvicultural Society. llie member in cjuestion pointed out/that Mr. Buick's activities had' boon of a most varied character. Ho was a sergeant in tho llutt Yeomanry Cavalry, aad a lieutenant in the P^lone Naval Arfcill<vry. lie was one of tho fiivd, dbectors of the Wellington Woollou Company, and chaivman of the I.ongbum Fwozing Company. Mr. Buiek's futni, "ClovefW, Kaira.nga, ie t&-da£ j^cogniaod u& one of-Ui« mart

■ciantificifly farm«d in New Zealand. It was taiken up in dense bush in 1881, and to^Say covers an area of 450 acres. It entries a. flock of stud Romney .sheep, a. purebred Shorthorn h*rd, recently augnSntad by imported prize Shorthqrns, *pd a thoroughbred stud of racing honsee/'whicE some of the 'best nwres in thjt^ Dominion. "I predict," 1 6^d the member previously quoted, "that Mr. Baicfc is, -without exception, one of the ablest ' and best informed, beat equipped, and most successful email farmers on *,n extensive scale in the Doinision... "He represents an electorate wjtich is the centre of Wellington, Taianski, and Hawkss. Bay, and hii» appointment to the vacant portfolio would W$ haUed_;with satisfaction throughout, the country 'districts."