THE POST OFFICE BONUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10430, 7 November 1919, Page 4

THE POST OFFICE BONUS

When a Minister of the Crown makes a promise to the department ho controls. after consultation with the Cabinet, there is but one course for tho Cabinet. It is to give effect to that promise. That has been the practice always, and if Ministerial government is to have the public confidence, no other practice should he thinkable. Therefore is it amazing to read that? tho Cabinet has determined to submit the promise made by a Minister to a groat department of the Public Service to the decision of some outside authority. During the debate on the second reading of the Postal Bill some weeks ago. Sir Joseph Ward referred to his promise made after consultation with the Cabinet, and notified to tho Postal Department by circular from tho Treasury. Ho had heon somewhat astonished to learn from tho answer of the Postmaster-General to a question on the subject that there appeared to be somo doubt whether effect was to be given to that promise. Ho detailed the circumstances and plainly insisted . that bis word to the men concerned should to made good. Many members supported him strongly, going into the merits of the question, and all who did so insisted that whatever the merits the plcdg-' cd word of tho Minister ought to bo made good. On behalf of the Government it was argued that there had been a difference of opinion about tho matter before the issue of tho circular, and it was further argued that if the consideration promised to the Postal Department was given, other departments would ho entitled to the same treatment, at a vast increase of cost to tho country. But their arguments were nullified by the admission that tho Cabinet minute on which Sir Joseph had acted had been cancelled after he had left the country. Those who supported Sir Joseph (and they -were of all shades of party) further pointed out that there was a radical difference between the case of the Postal Department and that of others. All of which is interesting enough in its way, and greatly strengthens tho claim for respect to tho Ministerial promise made after copsoi tation with the. Cabinet. But it is nil subordinate to the question of principle, which is that the word of tho Minister must go. There is no room for argument. One does not argue against axioms; one obeys without question.’ Befusal is unjust. To refer tho Minister’s plighted word to an outsider re to add insult to injustice. But that is what tho men who woro once colleagues of Sir Joseph’s in the Coalition Government have done, to him. They have struck a blow at Ministerial govern-

ment and they havo wounded the feelings of a groic body of officers on whom they have Inflicted tho hardship of grievous disappointment. They have also thrown some light on the working conditions of the Coalition ; conditionus evidently without loyalty and necessary and customary consideratiaon. No one can doubt now that in leaving the Coalition at the earliest possible moment Sir Joseph did absolutely the right thing for both the public interest and his own.