CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 October 1928, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

AIINISTERIIAL FUNCTIONS. (To the Editor.)) Sir, —A 1 close knowledge of the Spheres of authority allocated to the various Cabinet Alinisters, is not to be* looked for in the average elector, who has not the opportunity of acquiring it; but.an ex-member of Parliament, wUo, with seven years' experience, should at least know that the Customs Department is not- administered by the Minister of Agriculture., The people of Egmont would be ungrateful indeed if they dkl not give credit for the unremitting study of other candidates’ speeches which provided Air Wilkinson at Eltli am with the splendid piece of rhetoric culled from an address delivered by the United Party candidate for Otaki. I refer to his scornful denunciation of the Government’s action in helping the wheat farmers fco establish the Dominion’s independence of overseas flour supplies. The people of Otaki must be pleased to know that the speeches of their young candidate were capable of inspiring an old campaigner like Air Wilkinson ! At that meeting Air Wilkinson thoughtfully provided for the audience sheets of reading matter, the following extract from which must have proved to all lovers of fiction privileged to secure one. a- tantalising foretaste of the diverting programme which was to follow: “REPSONSIBILITY ACCORDING TO HON. AIR COATES.” “ ‘The only person, who could set out a policy was the Alinister in charge qf a Department, who- had to obtain the approval pf Cabinet in respect to policy matters. When that was obtained, iie accepted the whole responsibility for the administration qf that Department.. (Hansard, page 434, Ang. 22nd, 1928.)' ‘ ‘These are the words of the. Prime Alinister,” continued Mr Wilkinson, “and All’ Hawken, as Minister of Agriculture, therefore cannot possibly excuse himself from responsibility in connection with the flour duty, which raises the price of people’s daily bread beyond all reason.” It may be permissible to state the facts that the tariff is administered by the Customs Department, which is controlled by the Alinister of Customs—who is not Mr Hawken,. —I am., etc., FACTS FIRST.