WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13860, 12 September 1919, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

a farmers' MINISTRY. AGRICULTURE SUPREME.. (Special to the Oamaru Mail.) WELLINGTON". September 10. Never before have tile rural industries ben so fiiliy represented in a Cal)inet in tills eouiitry as they are in the one -Mr Massey lias constructed on the ashes of the National Government. Every one of the Ministers is more or less closely connected with agriculture. The Prime Minister. Mr Guthrie. Mr Hine. Mr Coates and Mr Nosworthy are practical farmers, harvesting their crops

'and tendering their flocks and herds: Sir Francis liell and MrHerries are large land-owners and Sir .lames Allen and Sir William Eraser are intimately associated in one way or another with agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Though Mr Massey would naturally lean towards a generous representation of the rural industries in the Cabinet., lie probably was a little surprised himself ; when he found three-fourths of his colleagues to l>e followers of his own occupation and the other fourth very interested. PROMOTION DECLINED.

I That the Prime Minister had no idea o! "vomcring'' the portfolios in the interests of the farmers may be indued from the fact that his first inclination was to take Mr Downie Stewart. Mr Statham and Mr G. .1. Anderson into the Cabinet. If these gentlemen had been willing to accept the distinction they almost certainly would have had it. and. of course, they would have added very considerable si remit h to the Ministry*. Mr Downie Stewart and Mr Si at ha m are anion;: the'most capable ■.■ in), popular of the young men in the House, and Air Anderson's experience v.-.-hi Id be invaluable to any Government n! which be might be a member. But Mr Downie Stewart declined promotion partlv on account of ill-health and partly, it may be assumed, on account ot a disciiiiaiion to accept office thus early in his parliamentary career. Mr Statham and Air Anderson doubtless were deterred by a desire to retain the measure of independence they lately have been asserting.

BOARD OF TRADE. A very frank discussion concerning the functions, powers and constitution of the Board of Trade look place at the meeting of the Central Chamber ot Commerce yesterday. It arose out ot a motion tabled by Mr A. L. Hunt for the revival of the proposal for the establishment of a board chosen hy olectioti to represent the producing, icommercial, industrial and public interest-, for the purpose of promoting trad" ami controlling prices. Several of tin- speakers, including .Air Hunt himself, complimented the Board of Trade upon its jiood intentions and upon the work it had done, but despaired of its effecting any jiiv.it change in the existing stale of affairs while it remained under political influence. Mr C. .1. Ward said it would be difficult to find •lire harder working men than the members <'i the Board, but much of their labor wy- in' vain owiim to the dominance of the Minister. The chairman declared that nothing else ever was intended. The Board was simply a buffer between the Government and the people.

THE. OPPOSITION. Sir Joseph AVard. who hat been laid up with a very severe cold .since the end of hist week and who probably will not be able to take his place in the Hou.-e tiil to-morrow, when seen this morning said he hoped the .session v.ould lie brought to a clo.-e early next month. The meiitb.-rs of his party were unanimous in their desire to assist the Government as far as they could in getting al! uoec.--ary business, through, and he could see no reason why any time should be wasted in party bickering. But. of cour.se. the Opposition would iie expected by the country to i \erci-e it- constitutional functions and •i would not hesitate to do so. However, he was not expecting any serious i ontrover-ional matters to arise—anything of the sort would "be opposed to the wishes of s.nsiiji.- people inside and o:it-id- of Parliament and his own wish W as to get to the constituencies in time to have the elections and their aftermath wei! over before Christmas.