THE New Zealand Herald WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1925. THE CAUCUS AND AFTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19028, 27 May 1925, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1925. THE CAUCUS AND AFTER.

When the Government parly meets in caucus at Wellington to-day it will be an important moment in the political history of New Zealand. Its task will be to choose a leader in place of the one just lost. There are not-many men in politics or out of polities of such stature that the mantle of a Massey may fall upon them and be worthily worn. The very requirements of the situation narrow the choice. There is not much doubt about the identity of New Zealand's next Prime Minister, if anybody but the lion. J. G. Coates is selected the decision will come as a great surprise. He has not pressed his own claims to the position. Indeed, it is possible to go a little further and to say he docs not really want it. His reluctance is likely to be overborne by the unanimous wish of the party, which has been clearly enough indicated during the past few weeks. New Zealand eipects fully to find to-day that one who can be quite accurately described as a young New Zcalander, one who has many qualities making him a typical New Zealander, is to become Prime Minister of the Dominion. . If the party docs as everyone expects, and chooses him to guide its destinies, Mr. Coates will then have to select his associates in the Ministry. The captain must pick his own tejfm. This is not the work of an hour or a day.' There would be every justification for his asking Sir Francis Bell to carry on instead of tendering the resignation of the Government at once, so that there may bo a breathing space. When the resigna tion goes in all the Ministers relinquish office. If they are to serve again thev must be reappointed. The new Prime Minister will have the nucleus of a Cabinet in the colleagues who go out of office prior to his being sent for. by the GovernorGeneral. Certain readjustments of portfolios must be made, and hero will be the first opportunity for the exercise of judgment and selective ability. With Mr. Coates as the head of the Government there will be in power one who has established a reputation for picking the right man to bear responsibility and do constructive work. What is more, he has proved that he-has the strength of mind to sweep awav those whom he judges to be -inefficient or unadaptable. ITe has done it in the departments he controls. If he pursues the same course in forming a Cabinet the country will not complain. The results he has produced by these methods outside of polities have given'the public a taste for their vigorous exercise. If, yielding to the manifest wishes of the party in accepting the office of Prime Minister, Mr. Coates utilised the strength of his personal position to break away from the domination of seniority and other considerations with no real bearing on suitability, he would gain immensely in the eyes of the public, whatever the party might think. Only a strong man could do it. So far, Mr. Coates has given no cause ior doubting his strength, - and by transferring some of its abundance, to the task of leading the party he would improve its position and enhance his own reputation. Apart from such possibilities, it is difficult to see what is to be done about certain portfolios with Mr. Coates as Prime Minister. He himself holds four. Railways and Public Works are the two-most important. Then come the offices of P os t m as t e r- G en c r a 1 arid N a t iv e Minister. The Prime Minister could not be expected to carry them all. The load would be too great." A new Postmaster-General could doubtless be found. So could another Native Minister, though the natives themselves, through their members, can be expected to urge that Mr. Coates retain the portfolio. There is no man in Parliament more acceptable personally to them. It is conceivable that Public Works might be handed over to somebody else, for the hardest work of reorganisation and rejuvenation is obviously done. But what of Railways'! Is Air. Coates to relinquish the task so well begun ; but not even half done yef? If he were to keep it and hand Public Works to sonicone else, (he two departments which he. has proved should go together would then be separated. If ho continued to hold both it might be difficult to rearrange the other offices symmetrically and satisfactorily. The difficulty of allotting portfolios is accentuated by special circumstances. Mr. Downio Stewart reports that he will soon be back,

with renewed hope of regaining his health. This improves the outlook substantially. It- is only right to emphasise again the fact that hut for his infinitely regrettable physical handicap Mr. Downie Stewart would most certainly lie further in the foreground than he is at this turning point in New Zealand's political history. But however much the. circumstances be deplored they cannot be ignored. Even with him back in his place, Mr. Coat.es would find it necessary to devote much time and attention to the Parliamentary part of a leader's duties. He has not previously shown much desire to develop this side of a political career. As a Parliamentarian he is largely an unknown quantity. He may learn with a speed and thoroughness surprising to those who have not realised his adaptability and grasp of affairs. If he enters on the task, while at the same time carrying the heavy load of responsibility entailed by numerous important portfolios, he will be handicapping himself too severely. He devoted his attention so completely to making a success in liis departments that he gave little time to the tactics and machinery of the House itself. He set so high a standard in administrative work that it is not easy to divest himself of the duties done with great distinction. Therein lies his first problem. Though all these things complicate the situation, if the work of government had no difficulties it would not be so well worth doing. The road immediately ahead of the government is not entirely smooth. The wise policy is the resolute one. To go forward courageously taking the hurdles as they come, without making them seem higher by faltering, to eschew hesitancy and vacillation as being the most certain precipitin ts of disaster, to go as far as humans may toward ensuring success by deserving success —this is the wisest and best policy for the party and the man on whom the choice falls to-day.