Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURS., JUNE 10, 1926. A POPULAR APPOINTMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17056, 10 June 1926, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURS., JUNE 10, 1926. A POPULAR APPOINTMENT.

■The utmost satisfaction will, we fool sure, bo expressed throughout the East Coast district at the latest appoint-. went to the. Ministry, not only because the gentleman selected for high office' .'9* one who is hold throughout the whole of his own and neighboring constituencies in (he highest esteem as a -nan of sterling finalities, but because it will "bo felt that in conferring the administration of Public Works into his hands the Prime , Minister has chosen as a colleague one who is so thoroughly conversant with the needs of the undeveloped portions of the Dominion and who can be depended upon to bring a ripe knowledge, keen practical eonimon-ser.se, and an unsparing ilcvotion to the public welfare to bear upon the problems of his Department. When the Prime Minis tor a few lays ago spoke of the need for selection to this important, post of a man who had been a" way-back" man, who had travelled in the mud as noil as on the best of roads, he clearly indicated the direction in which his dunce was going, and it. is not surprising to find that lid: has appointed as .Minister for. Public Works a member who for many years has lived under conditions such as he described, and who can measure in his constituency probably a greater area of undeveloped and unloaded country than

any other member in the House. It will be very gratifying to oiir public bodies and to the residents of this wide district to have representation in the Ministry by a man who is so easily approached, as Mr. Williams has proved to be, and who has hitherto ;;iven the nn.st strict and diligent attention to every matter of public^importance brought befoie him. Knowing the East ('oast district so inli mutely as Mi. Williams knowing if.- potentialities for 'settlement, knowing its requirements in the way of railways, l'wilds and bridges, we nitty be Hire thai the district will he given a square deal in .all allocations for public works, and that Ihc Hon. Mr. Williams, whilst being scrupulously fair to till other portions of'the Dominion, and regarding all applications for public works from the paramount standpoint of the national interest, will not spare himself to advance the progress of this portion of Now" Zealand, so long neglected and so capable, of adding to the material wealth and productive power of Now,Zealand as a whole. The new Minister, it is probable, will follow closely on the lines of policy laid down by his chief during the years that he

litis held the port folio of Public Works, and will satisfy himself regarding every proposition put before him that it is practical and likely to be profitable in the national interest, and having put his hand to the plough on any public enterprise he will use his best endeavors to 'sec the job through in the most efficient and capable manner. He also will be a man who will seek to get things done. The unfinished works that Mr. Pontes has initiated will he carried as rapidly as possible through to completion, "notably, we hope, the railway to Gisborne and the reading of the Hast Coast and Hay of Plenty. People here are beginning to realise the great value of the reading work performed under Mr. Coates' jurisdiction—the boon it lias conferred upon the settlers ami the community as a whole—and With Mr. K. 8. Williams at the helm it may be confidently predicted that there will bo no slackening of effort until the whole of this territory is adequately roaded and put in a position to become as highly productive as other portions of tho Dominion which have long been favored with good roads and with railway communication. The elevation of'Mr. Williams to Cabinet rank is a high recognition of his worth by those who have been intimately associated with him in Parliament for the past twelve years, who have noted his close application to his public duties, his shrewd common sense, a 14! his zealous desire to be of service to his fellow men and to lift politics above the plane of party pettiness. He has been no self-seeking carpet-bagger, and if Ins own inclinations were consulted doubtless he would have preferred to remain a private, meu.ber and to attend during the recess to his own extensive, interests as. a; sheepfarmer, but ihe .call' to service has been accepted loyally in the hope that such talents as he possesses may bo usefully employed for the uplift of the Dominion and the maintenance of good government in this part of the Empire. We congratulate Mr. Williams on his decision to accept office, and trust ho may lrivc a long and successful career as a Minister of the Crown.