THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. THE WORK OF THE CABINET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17461, 4 May 1920, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. THE WORK OF THE CABINET.

One of the lessons of the railway strike is the need for the immediate strengthening of the Cabinet and the more- equal distribution of responsibility. It is obvious that Mr. Massey is carrying far too heavy a burden for any one man, no matter how, strong, how, capable, and how devoted. He is, as no New Zealand i statesman has been, since the days ! of Mr. Seddon, the mainspring of all political action 'and(the fountain of all authority. The most casual observer can hardly have; failed to notice the almost insupportable strain this role has thrown on Mr. Massey. Either as Prime' Minister or Minister.' for Labour he intervened successfully in the coal mining dispute. At the same time he was involved in controversies affecting the prices of hides and flour. As Minister in charge of the Imperial Government Supplies Department he has had to prepare, for the transition period in the Dominion's trade, a matter of prolonged and delicate negotiation. As Prime Minister he properly accompanied the Prince of Wales to Rotorua but as Minister for Railways he was compelled to hasten to Wellington to restore industrial peace. As Prime Minister ho will be associated with Mr. Coates in hearing the grievances of the post and telegraph officers. When it is added that Mr. Massey has recently undergone an operation it will be realised that he is forced by tho state of his Cabinet to take risks to which even the strongest constitution should not be subjected. From the public point of view the present i concentration of responsibility results in vexatious delays. Mr. Massey, with all his industry and tirelessness, cannot carry the burden now resting on him. Probably no one else could make as brave an effort as he has done. , The • fundamental cause of this anomalous Cabinet situation is that an unusually large number of Ministers have recently won their spurs and Mr. Massey desires to give them administrative experience gradually. It is to be feared this kindly precaution cannot, under the present circumstances, be observed. The Prime Minieter has been unfortunate in losing nearly all his old colleagues about the same time. Sir James Allen is leaving the country, Sir William Fraser has laid down his most important portfolio and is about to surrender Cabinet rank. J Of the Reform Ministers who j entered tho Coalition with Mr. Massey only Sir William Herries, Sir Francis Bell, and Dr. Pomaro remain, and the first-named is content with a much smaller share in I the administration than formerly. I This consideration makes it obvious I that the Prime Minister must make heavy demands on his new colleagues and trust to their native ability to carry them through. There | is hardly a portfolio that does not I entail a great deal more work than before tho war and Mr. Massey cannot carry them all. The duties of the Prime Ministership—the shaping of policy and the general direction and co-ordination of administration—are quite enough for one man. Mr. Massey is in addition carrying railways—usually the chief responsibility of the second member of the Government—Labour—involving all industrial questions— lmperial Government Supplies, Industries and Commerce, Police and Electoral. The highly-important portfolios of Finance and Defence are about to become yacant, one calling for special.

ability of a' % very rare order and the other for the experience and enthusiasm necessary, to : re-establish-the. citizen forces on a sound and popular basis. Tbi "Department ;of Public Works "■■. is in such ';■ urgent \, need of overhaul that.it should occupy the whple of one man's time. The contemplated * revision •of the ' Customs tariff will. give; Sir William Hemes enough to think about. If educational reforms, long canvassed are to be realised the Minister in charge of this Department will find himself fully employed. The 'mandate for Samoa, the new forestry policy, the •resumption of immigration, the land hunger, shared by soldiers and civilians, all increase the difficulties of administration and mako large demands upon the time and ability of Ministers. .. . , The national tasks which lie ahead can only be accomplished by a strong, efficient ' and .. well-balanced Cabinet.. The Primp Minister has already indicated that his Ministry will number 11 members, including the Maori representative, compared with nine before the war and' 13 during the Coalition period. At present, excluding Sir William Fraser and Sir James Allen, who are on the point of retiring, it numbers nine. The place of Mr. Hine has been kept open pending the Stratford by-election this week, but the decision of the' Stratford electors will' remove the last excuse for delay. Two additional appointments should bo made to the Cabinet forthwith and the work of government should be more evenly distributed. If Mr. Hino .is returned he will presumably take Defence, , thus obviating the necessity of placing this responsibility .on Mr. Coates, who in Public Works and Post and Telegraphs has already more than enough to do. It will not be easy to select a qualified successor to Sir James Allen as Minister for Finance, but the -public hope that Mr. Massey Will not himself take the portfolio unless he is prepared to surrender all his other departments to his colleagues. ' ; The administration of the near future will depend as much upon good* team work as upon individual effort and Mr. Massey will best serve the State by divesting himself as Much as possible of detail and devoting himself to co-ordinat-ing and inspiring the efforts of his colleagues. Herein is a promising field which successive Prime Ministers in New Zealand have all but neglected. :