FILLING PORTFOLIOS '

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 90, 16 April 1920, Page 6

FILLING PORTFOLIOS '

CRITICISM OF DELAY.

Commenting on'the result of the Bruce by-election, the Leader of the Liberal Party (the Hon. .W. D. S. MacDonaH) expressed the hope that it would assist the Prime Minister to make up his mind to the formation of a complete Cabinet without further delay. He heartily agreed with Mr. Ma«ey that what the country wanted was a stable Government, but so far the Prime Minister had called upon.only three or four novices in administrative work, while three or four of his old colleagues remaining in the Cabinet were understood to bo on the point of resignation. ■ .'

This, Sir. MacDonaJd contended, -was not fair to the country, nor indeed t<> Mr. Massey himself. Surely threo months after the election the people had the right to know to whom they were tiy look for the administration of the different Departments. The new Minister of Public Works was reported to have said that he would not. attempt' to frame his policy until'he had had three months in which to ascertain the needs of the country. This was an admirable example of tho caution commonly attributed to his own countrymen, but if tho other Ministers to be appointed two, three, or six months hence followed the ■same course, the work of reconstruction and development would be very seriously hampered. Mr.' Maesey might think the fewer'active Ministers the greater unanimity in the Cabinet—a statement to this effect had been credited to him—but unanimity gained by lack of representation was. not in keeping with the spirit of popular government. '