MINISTERS OF THE CROWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 35

MINISTERS OF THE CROWN.

SIR JAMES PARR’S DEPARTURE. (From Oob Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 23. Sir James and Lady Parr will be leav ing New Zealand for London in April and with Sir James’s departure and his impending resignation as Minister of the Crown, there must be further changes in Mr Coates's Cabinet. Sir James’s impending departure and his possible appointment as High Commissioner in London were first foreshadowed several weeks ago. The Appropriation Act of 1920 provides, for a Prime Minister at a salary of £2OOO a year and 10 others each holding one or more of the Ministerial offices mentioned in the schedule to have a salary of £I3OO per annum. In addition, there is legislative provision for the appointment of a Maori member or members of the Executive Council. If only one is appointed his salary is to be £llOO a year;, if two are appointed the salary of each is to be £SOO a year. Sir Maui Pomare is the only Maori on the Executive, so he draws the full salary. He is not, however, a Minister. The present Ministers are the Right, Hon. J. Coates, the Hons. W. D. Stewart, A. D. M'Leod, W. Nosworthy, Sir James Parr, G. J. Anderson, R. F. Bollard, F. J. Rolleston, O. J. Hawken, and J. A. Young. Thus there are 10 in all. With the impending resignation of Sir James Parr there will remain only nine Ministers in Mr Coates’s Cabinet, so that he will have the right to ask his Excel lency the Governor-General lo agree to the appointment of two more Ministers. These appointments are to be made before the end of the financial year, and will mean a further redistribution of certain portfolios. It is known that Mr Stewart will take over Finance from Mr Nosworthy, who has been temporarily in charge, and it is expected that I Ir Coates will divest himself of the portfolio of Public Works, but not of Railways, as has been stated in 6ome newspapers. It is probable that Mr Rolleston will take over Education when Sir James Parr leaves the Ministry, Mr Rolleston being the most suitable member of the Cabinet to administer that department. There will necessarily be some changes in regard to the administration of other departments. It is not known who Mr Coates will select as the two new Ministers. Prominent men whose abilities may receive consideration are Messrs David Jones (member for Ellesmere), K. S. Williams (member for Bay of Plenty), Adam Hamilton (member for Wallace), and F. F. Hockly (member for Rotorua). Possibly there will be one appointment for the North Island and one for the South Island. In such matters, however, Mr Coates keeps his own counsel almost to the last day. It is evident that when Mr Coates completes his Cabinet he will have a strong and able team under his command. Indeed, not since Mr Massey chose his first colleagues has there been so able a Ministry. In addition, Mr Coates will have the advice of others who are not Ministers—viz., those members of the Legislature who have been made members of the Executive Council. At present members of the executive without portfolios are members of the Legislative Council. They are the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Sir Heaton Rhodes, and the Hon. D. H. Guthrie. It has already been explained that Sir Maui Pomare, though only a member of the executive, draws an official salary. The other members of the executive draw no salary as such, but receive only the modest honorarium which they get as members of the Legislative Council. The new Leader of the Legislative Council, whoever he may be, will no doubt be made a member of the Executive Council. The Governor-General, on the advice of his Ministers, has power to appoint members of the Executive Council, and such members need not necessarily be members of either House of Parliament. There were instances of the King having called outsiders to the Executive in England during the Great War. THE HIGH COMMISSiONERSHIP. SIR JAMES PARR APPOINTED. The following statement has been issued by the Prime Minister:— “Sir James Allen’s term of office as High •Commissioner will expire on July 31 next, and it has become necessary for the Government to take steps to select a successor to represent New Zealand in London. It has been decided to appoint as High Commissioner the Hon. Sir James Parr, K. who at present holds the Ministerial portfolios of Education and Post-master-General. Sir James Parr will leave for London within the next two months His resignation of his portfolios and also of his sent in the nouse of Representatives will take place in due course. I desire to take this opportunity of expressing the Government’s warm appreciation of the valued and able services of Sir James Allen during his six Roars’ term of office as High Commissioner. Tie has carried out the multifarious and important duties attaching to the position with conspicuous zeal and ability. lie has represented the Dominion in the heart of the Empire with dignity and credit, and has earned and enjoyed the confidence of His Majesty’s Government. He has at nil times placed the interest of his country first, and Ims worthily upheld the highest traditions of the office. New Zealand is indetvfl indebted to him for the faithful and loyal service which he has rendered to the Dominion, and I feel sure that this tribute to the retiring High Commissioner will be warmly endorsed by the great majority of the people of the Dominion. Sir James Parr's appointment will take effect August 1 next, and will be for three yeaiv.*’