THE NEW MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 6

THE NEW MINISTER

The diief claims of Mr. R, FBollard to Ministevial rank are based upon his services as Government Whip and Chairman of the Railways Committee of the House of Representatives. (Such services do not, however, bring a member of Parliament into the limelight, and Mr. Bollard himself lias never sought prominence in debate. His appointment, we believe, will give general satisfaction to his fellowmembers, who have been enabled to estimate and appreciate his

general public has not had similar opportunities for gauging the personal worth of the new Minister, and outside the Auckland Province Mr. Bollard is known only by name. The name is an honourable one; and that, at least, warrants suspension of public judgment till the new Minister makes himself more widely known. We ourselves would have been glad to see the debating power of the Government front bench strengthened, but Mr. Bollard may yet prove as capable in this direction as he has been in others. The Prime Minister's task does not, however, end with the selection of a new Minister. He has yet to complete the reconstruction of his Cabinet. Some steps have already been taken, including the allocation of the portfolio of Eailways to Mr. Coa-tes, Lands to Mr. Nosworthy, and External Affairs to Sir Francis Bell. The principal point which now calls for attention is the amount of work and responsibility placed upon the shoulders of Mr. Coates. He himself may not complain. He may be quite willing to do all that is asked of him; but in the interests of the country and of those important Departments which must be his main concern he should not be permitted to overburden himself.