The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1928. THE CABINET VACANCY.

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 4

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1928. THE CABINET VACANCY.

At any time now it may be expected to be announced that a new Minister has been appointed to the Cabinet to fill the place left vacant by the death of the Hon. Mr Bollard, who was Minister of Internal Affairs. At least, practically all the speculations and reports that have been prompted by the vacancy have been based on the assumption that an appointment would be made. There was the suggestion, made during the session, that it would not be convenient to promote some deserving member of the Prime Minister’s following at that time, because the strain and pressure of parliamentary business would make the worst conditions for him in which to become acquainted with his new duties. When Mr Coates was asked a few days ago if he had any announcement to make concerning the appointment, his reply was that he had hardly settled down then after returning to Wellington. He said nothing to discourage the impression that an appointment will be made, and the ‘ New Zealand Herald ’ has been giving some advice to the Prime Minister as to the considerations by which a selection should bo regulated. The ‘Herald’ suggested that geography should play only the smallest part in the selection of a successor to Mr Bollard, who was an Auckland member. The best man should bo chosen, even if he camo from another province or from the South Island. That was broad-minded on the ‘ Herald’s ’ part. Too much can be sacrificed for the “ ward system ” in the appointment of a Cabinet, though it is not tho North Island, usually, that is disposed to sot least importance on such representation. This appointment will have its difficulties for Mr Coates and its heart-burnings for disappointed members, however it may be made. It is likely to bo complicated by the Prohibition issue, which, since the fate of last year’s Bill, threatens to assume a more obtrusive place in our politics. If geographical considerations could bo entirely subdued, Mr Lee, of Oamaru, might have one unique title to the promotion, since he has been a Minister before. It is not impossible that some understanding existed that, in the event of circumstances favoring, he would bo restored to his old position when Mr Massey assisted him with such vigor in a famous by-election. By the present Government he has been treated as an important member of its following on more than one occasion. Ho took up the Licensing Bill when the Prime Minister washed his hands of it; he was chairman of the special committee set up to allay the agitation that was provoked by the regulations in restraint of motor-omnibus services; and he was chairman of the House committee to which tho Samoan grievances were referred. But Mr Lee is a Prohibitionist. It may be in the mind of Mr Coates, and of some supporters of Mi Coates, that he has too many Prohibitionists in his Cabinet, and that a balance of opinion there upon that question more in accordance with its division in the country would be an advantage. Mr David Jones is a South Island member whose name has been mentioned in the past for preferment, but he might be thought to suffer from the same disability. The choice would seem to lie between Mr Lee andMrHockly, chairman of committees, in whose case no geographical conventions would require to be waived. Mr Hockly is not a Prohibitionist, and, on general grounds, his appointment would probably be popular with the party.

The most welcome announcement which the Prime Minister could make, from the country’s viewpoint, is that no appointment to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Bollard’s death is held to be required. Cabinet has worked well enough up till now with one member less than it had six months ago. It is hard to believe that any Minister, since the session, at least, which would have been a hard time in any case, has been overworked, and we see no reason why it should not continue with a mere readjustment of portfolios. The cry lias been made for economy. Here is one plain way by which the Government can set the example—a better way than the reduction of grants to keep schools in repair. The Cabinet of which Mr Bollard was a Minister contained fourteen members, including two without portfolios. The first Reform Government, in 1912, had only nine. In the National Ministry, artificially swollen to provide for representation of two parties, there were thirteen members.' Thirteen certainly should be sufficient now. We believe that a statement by Mr Coates that the Government would go on without any addition to its numerical strength would be the most popular announcement made by him covering a long time past.