NOTE OF THE DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5533, 15 July 1920, Page 4

NOTE OF THE DAY.

The announcement that Sir 1!. Heaton Rhodes, member for Ellersmere and a member of Mr Massey’s first Ministry, lias been appointed to the vacancy* in the Cabinet and is likely to become the new Minister for Defence, will be received with much satisfaction. It may be recalled that Sir Heaton (or Mr Rhodes as be then was) was whip of the Reform party for many of the years in which it was in Opposition and, when Mr Massey formed his first Ministry lie gave to Mr Rhodes the portfolios of the Post Office and of Public Health. These he held until lf>ls when the time came for the formation of the National Ministry, when he. with other members of the -Ministry, placed his resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister. Mr Rhodes, howeer. insisted that liis resignation should he final, for he saw that if there was to he a Coalition Government some of the members of the existing government would have to retire. Very soon afterwards he went abroad with a special commission to enquire into the question raised here as to the welfare of the New Zealand soldiers on active service. The Gallipoli Campaign was then goingon. and Mr Rhodes went, not only to Egypt and Lemnos, but right up to the front and over the whole extent of the front from Suvla southwards. It is now an open • secret that while there he was recommended by General Godlev for command of the mounted brigade when General Russell Avas made commander of the division at the conclusion of the Gallipoli Campaign. It Avas through no fault of his that Colonel Rhodes did not accept this command. When he returned to Npav Zealand Parliament A-ofed him £SOO for his expenses and this sum, supplemented by an additional £SOO from his oavii resources, Mr Rhodes gave for the establishment of a fund for'scholarships for the children of soldiers—a fund ivhich has, since then, been considerably supplemented by Lady Rhodes: * Soon afterwards Mr Rhodes Avas despatched to England and Eunice, as commissioner for the New Zealand Red Cross. He

was absent from Hew Zealand for some two years- It was iu recognition of liis special services to the Tied Cross that ho was created a. Knight of the British Empire—the only one in the country. When previously in office he was accounted a good administrator, and he was exceedingly popular wjtli all departments in his care.