STRONG CRITICISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 25

STRONG CRITICISM

PREMIER OF "VICTORIA AGENT-GENERAL APPOINTED - BRIGADIER BOURCHIER'S POST I [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE. Feb. 5 A reputation for political astuteness las clung to the State Premier, Mr. A. A. Dunstan, since he withdrew from tho comppsite Ministry of the United Australia and Country Parties after the general election early last vear, and decided to form a purely Country Party Ministry. His coup was made possible only by the promise of support from tho Labour Party, for tho County Partv members constitute only about one-third of the Legislative Assembly. Much bitterness was caused bv Mr. Dunstan's action in deserting his colleagues of the United Australia Party almost as soon as the electorate hail decisively rejected tho Labour p o ]ioy and had voted a continuance of office to the united parties Tinder the leadership of Sir Stanley Argylo. Mr. Dunstan's tactics nine months ago are being recalled through the appointment of Brigadier M. Bourchier io the position of Agent-General for Victoria in London. While Mr. Dunftan was Minister for Lands in the Argylo Ministry, Brigadier Bourchier, although not holding Cabihet rank, was actually the leader of the Country Party, and in that capacity he spoke for the party in the election campaign. , But after the election the Country Party decided to change its leader.. In a ballot Mr. Dunstan defeated Brigadier Bourchier. Within a few weeks Mr. Dunstan was Premier of the State. Acceptance Causes Surprise Brigadier Bourchier was elected deputy-leader of the party and was , included in the Dunstan Cabinet as .Chief Secretary, a post corresponding in New Zealand to Minister for Internal Affairs, but ranking in importance in Victoria next to the Premier when the latter, as is usually the case, ' is also Treasurer. Outwardly the eclipse of Brigadier Bourchier by Mr, Dunstan does not appear to have left any heart-burnings. Mr. Dunstan has a genial, urbane manner, which has extricated him from several difficulties, and his frequent consultations with th< Labour Party have kept him persons grata with the men who are sustaining him in office in much the same way as the Labour Party in New Zealand "obliged" Sir Joseph Ward frorr 1928 to 1930. , Possibly Brigadier Bourchier had ban ished any hopes of being restored to th< leadership, but his acceptance of th< London post caused a surprise, ever among most of, his colleagues in th< Ministry. It cannot be pretended tha Brigadier Bourchier has displayed con spicuous talents as a Minister. He hai a splendid war record. Leaving Aus -tralia as a lieutenant in the Fourtl Light Horse in ~1914, he returned witl the rank of lieutenant-colonel in com mand of the regiment. He was men tioned three times in despatches, wa awarded the D.S.O. in 1917 and wa created C.M.G. in ISI9. In 1931 he wa .appointed commander of the Secom Cavalry Division, Victoria, with th rank of brigadier. Most of his war ser vice was in Sinai and Palestine. He ha been a member of the State Parlia ment since 1920 and was Minister fo: Agriculture in an earlier Ministry. But . as has so often happened, the bril liant soldier has not proved to be J > brilliftni poliiwftn or stnto^nan. "Spoils to the Victors" ' The selection of Brigadier Bourchie as Agent-General was cynically greetei by the Argus, which commented editori ally'"Exception can be taken to th appointment of Brigadier Bourchier a Agent-General on several grounds. A an exunple of 'the policy of 'spoils t fhe victors' it is to be condemned. No only has the Dunstan Ministry be stowed this/high post upon a colleagu without an adequate survey of ? th available field of selection; it has splvei a problem for itself in doing so. Th presence in the Cabinet of a man o moderate opinions such' as Brigadie Bourchier was becoming embarrassini in view of the evident determination o the Ministry's Labour masters to exac the full price of their support in ex treme legislation and administration. "Expediency'dictated that Brigadie Bourchier should go. Only outstand ing fitness for the office of Agent-Gen eral could have justified th? appoint ment. The post demands in its occu pant a sound business training, s thorough knowledge of -all phases o Victorian activities, political sagacity and no small share of personal magne tisra. Brigadier Bourchier, while hi possesses, and deserves, the respect o his Parliamentary colleagues and hi: constituents, lacks these qualifica -tions." Brigadier Bourchier will leave fo L ° n d°n in April, and on July 1 wil officially succeed Mr. Linton who has held the post for three years.