THE NEW CABINET

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 1, 13 December 1928, Page 7

THE NEW CABINET

A JUDICIOUS MIXTURE. OF TRIED AND NEW MEMBERS. AUCKLAND STAR'S COMMENT. AUCKLAND, Dec. H In the course of an editorial cn the new Cabinet the Star, after paying a tribute) to th e manner in which Mr Coates took h,is (Hint, states: “It is doubtful whether Sir Joseph Ward will he able to give tiitf necessary “wine and energy to two mam departments, and at the same time supervise the wliole field of Government, and lead the House. “Mr Forbes is the new Minister of Lands. There were good repsons for appointing a North island menihei to this very important post, and, irankly, we should have preferred a younger and more vigorous man. On the other hand), Mr Forbes is a, farmer, and he has had a long exoerience .n Parliament, and as a, leaseholder who has never wavered in Ins faith, he may he robed upon not to play ducks and drakes with whiit remains of the national estate. “Mr Ransom takes over Public Works, and in the management of this great spending department his experience on public bodies should stand him in good) stead. “The same remark applies to Mr Taverner, who will be responsible for Ridlways. The direction of the greatest of our trading departments will be in the hands of a man well trained hr private and public business. “Mr Veitdh will lie a sympathetic Minister of Labour, and Sir Aphtma Ngata, of course, becomes Native Minister.'

“The assignment to l Air Wilford of the Department of Justice, which ho directed lor two years in the National Government,, was also expected. This will suit him. well, fund st> will Defence, for he has long been a, student of naval and inimnry problems. “Mr Atmore, who has intellectual interests and is a capital spn-tker, will be responsible/ for Education, and will bird in that department ample opportunity for the exercise of tiie qualities of common sense, vis-on and AnnneSiS. The reasons for selecting Mr do lln Per die are a. little obscure. His appointment makes a meal of four Irom Otago and Southland (counting Mr Sidey). While we think the argument that distribution should ho on the basis of papulation is unsound, wo may say that in the absence of some outstanding qualification it is anomalous that a comparatively stagnant Southern Province'Should hUve four Ministers, who are to control, among others, such important offices as Finance and Railways, whereas Auckland), which possesses one-third of the population of the Dominion, should be represented by the , holders of only two minor portfolios. Of special interest to Auckland people are the appointments of Messrs Donald and Stall-worthy, With Messrs Taverner and Ccbbe they share the distinction of going into Parliament and into Cabinet in the same stride. The selection, apart front the critic!tut that wo have made. npptiiTs to us as a judicious mixture of experienced Parliamentarians and( new members.’’