Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7655, 13 June 1896, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

' GISBOENE, SATURDAY, JOTSO 18, 1896. MINISTERIAL CHANGES, iln the event of Mr Ward's retirement from the Cabinet, which seems now to be very probable, the Ministry will become more than ever a one-man Ministry. His resignation would release the portfolios of Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, Commissioner of Telegrnphs, Commissioner of Customs, Commissioner of Marine, and Minister of Industries and Commerce. Mr Seddon, it is said, will appropriate the most important — that of Colonial Treasurer— probably leaving the other offices to be distributed amongst the other Ministers. Mr Seddon would thus be Premier, Treasurer, Minister of Labor, Minister of Defence, and Native Minister, und these offices, together wifh his appointments as me.mber of the Assets Realisation Board and adviser to the Anglo-German syndicate, surely entail too mauy duties for any one man. That of Treasurer alone should be sufficient to keep one Minister fully employed if a proper control is to be kept of the finances of the colony. It is well known that at the present time the new Ministers — Messrs Hall - .Tones, Thompson, and Walker, with the portfolios of Works, Justice, mid Education respectively, are under his tutelage, aud daro not act in any important matter without consulting him. Hoiv will bo it be possible for Mr Seddon to control all theeo offices and do his work well 1 Last session he complained of boing grievously overworked, yet during the recess he took upon himself the extra duties In connection with the Assets Board and " German Bund," to which such objection has beon taken. It will be impossible for Mr Seddon in justice to himself or his position to accept the further laborß and responsibilities of Treasurership. Now should be the opportunity for Mr Carroll to assert himself and obtain that which has long been regarded as his right, but which the Premier iias so long denied him the portfolio of Native Affairs. As Native MimstPr, and claiming tho independence and responsibility which should be attached to the position, Mr Carroll might be of great service to the district he represents in bringing about a settlement of the Native land question, which hus hampered the progress aud prosperity of the "East Const for bo many years, and which, we believe, will only find true solution by a vigorous Ministerial policy. Pressure is being brought to bear on the Government to fill up the vacant Attorney-Generalship. Is there any necessity for ibi Tho office has now been vacant for ovor seven months, and no one has complained. JThis might be takon as an evidence thai; tho office could very woll be abolished altogether. Sir Patrick Buckley held the portfolio, which gave him a standing in the Legislative Council aB leader of the Government. The new Minister of Education, Mr Walkor, will now doubtless be iho Government figurehead in the Upper House. If there is a necessity for an Attorney-General there would bo more- certainty of obtaining compotenco by appointing a permanent salaried ofliciul, the same as the SolicitorGeneral. At anyrate reform is necessary in the direction of abolishing tho prescriptive; right to a Judgeship which tho portfolio of Attorney General carries, for under present circumstances there is nlways tho danger of an incompetent nffice-Beekur making his wiiy on to the Supreme Court Bench.