NOT FOR LOVE OF CHANGE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 10

NOT FOR LOVE OF CHANGE

Tho Dunodin "Star" (United) says: "The result of the new Prime Minister's drastic reconstruction is that practically every portfolio of first importance except that of Education finds a new holder, but the alterations have not been made so far-going simply out of love of change. They are in pursuance of the principle—that like Departments should be grouped together ras much as possible—that commonds it- | S elf at once to reason, and which the new Leader of the Government, it is evident, has exercised no little thought to apply. It is applied first of all to his own Departments, Customs, by a new departure, being joined as the Prime Minister's portfolio with Fmlance, which will make the heaviest part of Mr. Forbes 'a new burden. Mr. Downie Stewart in the last Government combined Finance and Customs, but he was not Prime Minister. The close relationship of the two is evident, and is likely to bo very practically folt in the immediate future, when Customs receipts, as part of the revenue, are expected to fall. "The all-important portfolio of Lands, which involves land settlement, is transferred by Mr. Forbes to Mr. Ransom, who,- by virtue of both his experience and his energy, should be well fitted to bear it, so the full needs of this most exacting Department should be met without the Prime Minister being overloaded. With the portfolio of Lands is very naturally associated that of State Forests, but the principle of co-ordination is not followed in the allocation of Agriculturo (along with Mines), to Mr. Murdoch. Mr. Taverner is relieved of Railways to take Public Works and Transport, quite as heavy a burden, Railways becoming the charge of Mr. Veitch, who was popularly expected to bo chosen for that portfolio when Sir Joseph Ward judged otherwise seventeen months ago. ' He had served in the Department, and made a study of railways, his chief specialty. In this readjustment of ofiices the principle of co-ordination has been followed in effect though not directly. The past Minister of Transport will have charge of Railways and the past Minister of Railways control of Transport. - The two heads of these complementary Departments should be able to work together. . ..Mr. Forbes should have an excellent working Government."