Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1923. THE NEW MINISTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 739, 22 June 1923, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1923. THE NEW MINISTER.

All things considered the Government has acted wisely in selecting Mr R. F. Bollard, the member for Raglan, as the new Minister. As the Senior Government Whip in the last Parliament, and as Mr Nosworthy’s successor in the Junior Whip’s position in the Long Parliament of 1914-19, Mr Bollard had easily established claims to Cabinet rank superior to those of any member of his party, so far as service goes. It has been said of him that he is “a true chip of the old block,” for, like his esteemed father, the late Mr John Bollard, M.P., he is a man of comparatively few words, of simple habits, unaffected manners, and shrewd business instincts. There are fewer, if any, more popular men in the House than Mr Bollard, for his genial disposition makes him a favourite with all sections— Liberals, Labourites and Reformers alike respecting him. There were, within the ranks of the latter, many aspirants to Cabinet rank, well lifted to take up Ministerial work, and, during the last few weeks, the names of Messrs liockly, Hudson, Nash and Sir John Luke have been freely mentioned together with that of Mr J. A. Young, the 'member for Waikato. The latter has probably an acquaintance with native affairs second only to that of the Maori representatives themselves, and it has been said ho would make a good Minister of Native Affairs—an office for which tho experience he. has gained as chairman of the Native Affairs Committee has peculiarly well fitted him, Mr Hudson and Mr Hockley are also good practical men of sound judgment and any one of the trio would have made a good Minister. Palmerstonians naturally hold the same opinion concerning their own member, Mr J. A. Nash, who has_ been continually adding to his experiences in public life. But all of these gentlemen will readily enough admit that Mr Bollard’s claims to office are greater than their own. Mr Bollard was chairman of the Railways Committee in tho last Parliament and has a good knowledge of railway affairs. He would make a good Minister of Railways, but that portfolio is at present held by the Hon. J. G. Coates in conjunction with the Works Ministry, A re-shuffling of portfolios is, however, impending and until the re-arrange-ment is actually effected it is impossible to say delinitely what portfolios will be allotted to Mr Bollard, although there are indications that Mr Parr is likely to be appointed Minister of Justice, in which event he would relinquish tho portfolio, of Health, which may possibly bo taken over by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who, in turn, may Jiand over tho Mines and Labour portfolios to Mr Bollard. But on these matters Mr Massey, with whom the ultimate decision rests, is maintaining a discreet silence, pending the decision of Cabinet. Tho Lands portfolio is being temporarily adminis*

to reel by the Hon. Mr Nosworthy, die Hon. D. H. Guthrie, whose health is gradually improving, still retaining ins seat in Cabinet and nominally remaining as Minister of Lands.