ABLE MEN AVAILABLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 26, 30 December 1925, Page 8

ABLE MEN AVAILABLE.

Mr Noswortliy who, in some respects, is the strongest and most conscientious member of the Ministry—a man who sees where his duty lies and has the moral courage to pursue it, no matter whom he offends —is not likely to be greatly troubled if he fails to secure inclusion in the reconstructed Cabinet. Failing the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, he would make a good Minister of Finance. His administration of the Department of Agriculture and of the Tourist Department has proved his capabilities in both directions, though he would probably have achieved greater popularity had he insisted upon greater expenditures for both services. His failing—lf failing it may be called—is that, unlike certain of his colleagues, he has always been mindful of the demands made upon the Treasury and when told further monej's were not available, he did not press for expenditures which would probably have materially assisted in developing his departments. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart is expected to take over the Finance portfolio. He is a.man of considerable culture who has made a study of those social and political questions which most perplex our twentieth century politicians. Mr Massey had great faith in his ability and regarded him as, intellectually, one of the strongest members of his team. Given better health it is no heresy to say that he might have been chosen as Mr Massey’s successor last May. But Mr Stewart’s absence from the Dominion, and the uncertainty of his recovery from his crippled condition physically, put him out of the running. Unless lie has expressed a wish to retire from office, it is certain he will be one of the leading members of Mr Coates’s Administration. Sir Maui Romare may be regarded as a fixture, although it has been suggested that Mr Ngata might take his place in the Ministry. The probabilities are all against the assumption that Mr Coates is likely to dispense with the genial doctor’s services. As head of the Health Department, Dr Pomare has more than justified Mr Massey’s selection of him as Minister of Health, the department, under his direction, having launched out with a vigour and earnest determination to make the health conditions of the country as satisfactory as possible that was as unexpected as it is pleasing. Outside of the Ministry there are many members of the party who probably consider themselves entitled to Ministerial preferment. The two Whips have ambitions in that direction, but with no desire to disparage their capacity for administrative work it has to be pointed out that there are other members of the party whose claims, based on ability and loyal service, entitle them to consideration. If Mr Statham is disposed to join the Ministry it is believed Mr Coates would be quite willing to include him, though Mr Statham may prefer to maintain his independence and remain as the Speaker of the House. Then Mr F. F. Hockly and Mr J. A. Young, able men and good debaters, both in attack and defence, are likely to claim consideration. In certain quarters their claims are regarded as paramount to all others. Mr Coates will have to shed some of his portfolios and it has been suggested that Mr K. S. Williams may relieve him of Native Affairs for the administration of which department ho is well suited. Other “possibles” also spoken of are the Hon. Mr Lee, who as a former Minister of the Crown proved a capable administrator, and whose re-elee-

tion to' Parliament is considered to have opened the way for his return to the Ministerial sphere; Mr F. Rolleston (the member for Timaru); Mr 0. Hawken; Mr R. P. Hudson and the member for Palmerston. There are others of course. Outside of the Reform Party it has been suggested that Mr Coates would do well to invite Sir Joseph Ward to accept a seat in the Cabinet and that Sir John Findlay should be chosen to succeed Sir Francis Bell as AttorneyGeneral and the Leader of the Legislative Council. Neither suggestion is likely to be taken seriously. It would indeed be a-strik-ing reversal of policy if the gentleman Mr Massey fought so hard to keep out of Parliament in 1911, when Sir John Findlay threw up his seat in the Council to contest Parnell against the Reform candidate, were to be nowplaced in his old position ministerially as the Government representative in the Upper House.