The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1926. THE NEW MINISTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1926, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1926. THE NEW MINISTER.

Delivered ev.ery evening by E o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Rood and Ararata.

The appointment of Mr R. A. Wright to the Cabinet will not cause sparks to fly, nor is -it likely that, the bestowal upon him of the portfolio of Education will make much difference to the intellectual life of the country. Hut the new Minister is honeet, solid and given to speaking his mind without any trimming oi; humbug. While- liis entry may not increase the power and' prestige of the Ministry,', fit will do nothing to weakV en that body—which is more than can be said of some appointments. In one respect, indeed, Mr Wright will be a decided gain to the Ministerial team: He is one of the big guns of the House in any bombardment of the Labour Party and its platform. Sometimes his shooting is more remarkable for its noise than its effect; but- the new Minister is one of the few men on theReform side who can meet the more loud-voiced Labour members at . their own game, and on their own ground. None of your sniping or snap-shooting for Mr Wright. Others may use, the rifle; artillery is .his choice. He trundles his heavies into position, and lets blaze all along the line at once. Even if his aim. be not all that it might be, and allowing for the shells that prove to, be “duds,” these outbursts are a valuable set-off to like thunders from across the floor; and they will be all the more necessary, from the Government’s point of view, now that Labour is to Tank as the official Opposition. Mr Coates has one: Minister who, positively hates to open lids mouth, and at least, one other •whose delivery is about as fearsome as the bleat of a, lamb, so it may be that the selection of Mr Wright, has been made with an eye on debating strength. Mere talk will never, carry an. Administration to sueecss l ; but no Prime l Minister can afford to neglect speaking ability in choosing his associates. As regards the departments that have been allotted him, we have no doubt that, Mr Wright’s honesty of .purpose and strict adherence, to principle will stand him irt good stead; but the feeling persists that Mr Rolleston would have made a better Minister of Education. However, Mr Wright lias been given his opportunity, and it may prove him to be a bigger man than his lengthy term as private member lias suggested. The next problem for the public mind) is to sort out a successor to the Prime Minister in the .portfolio of Public. Works. If geographical considerations are to weigh as heavily as in the past, the honour would seem to be in store for Mr David Jones (Ellesmere), chairman of the Meat Export Control Board. Mr Coates, when he is freeing himself of Public Works, must mean to keep the portfolio of Native Affairs, and this rather weakens Mr Iv. S. Williams’s chances of elevation.