THE CABINET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18407, 13 May 1920, Page 6

THE CABINET.

Possibly Mr Mnasey has done his bast nith the available materials, but we axe sure that Ms reconstructed Cabinet will not impress the public. There ia, we fear, in the Ministry as now announced not very much indicajtioo of that " sound Government with strong administrative capacity" which was promised at election time. An addition to the team is made by the appointment of Mr G. J Anderson, a gentleman who has shown for some years a lire and intelligent interest in education but has not manifested any special qualities of statesmanship. Probably Mr Anderson's elevation as much as anything else to geographical considerations, since Mr Massey could not decently have crowded in any more representatives of Auckland Province, while the South Island is very poorly represented in the Ministry. It ia a mighty change from the past to have this island figuring in the Cabinet in the weak persons of Messrs Nosworthy, Lee and Anderson—an island whioh has contributed to the Dominion's statesmanship so splendidly throughout tho country's history, until now. We contrast the present Ministers with such giants as Seddon, Ward, M'Kenzie, Rolleston, Allen Russell and Fraser (to keep within comparatively recent times), and it will be recognised to what a large degree the Reform Government has developed in numbers and calibre almost into a North ' Island monopoly- Mr- Massey has not very many supporters in theso parts, it is true; but in reconstructing his Cabinet he ha? overlooked one whose selection would have strengthened the Ministry in ite capacity and in the public estimation- It is, however, quite likely that Mr S'tatham is left out because his views are not reactionary enough to suit the. party. In the new shuffle of portfolios Mr Massey has divested himself of Labour, but evidently he is in doubt as to where to place this responsibility He'retains the important portfolios of Finance and Railways, which with other duties inseparable from tho position r-f Prime Minister, plus several minor Departments, will still leave Mr Massey with far more than a reasonable share of 'work and more than he can be expected to efficiently perform. The Ministry in a decidedly weak combinationHalf of its members are beginners and somo of them are of the mediocre type.

For the rest, Mr Massey is overburdened with responsibilities, while his two principal colleagues aro known to be weary of office. Mr Guthrie is, wo feel sure, a. 3 well-meaning as lie is amiable, but wo do not regard him as sufficiently capable to administer the enormously important Ministry of Lands. As Minister in charge of the Cook Islandi Dr Pomare has nob taken advantage of opportunities that have extended over nearly eight years, and nobody nowadays looks upon him as being of the sort that go to make "a sound Government with strong administrative capacity." In tho allocation of portfolio? as supplied by our correspondent we notice there is no PostmasterGeneral. Possibly this appointmont, like that of Labour, is giving Mr Massey food for thought. We confess thai if we were in his shoes we should have difficulty in finding the right men for the right places.