A RUSH PROGRAMME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 9

A RUSH PROGRAMME

CANADA’S GOVERNMENT FACES GREAT PROBLEMS MR. BENNETT’S RESPONSIBILITIES Few Canadian Governments have been, confronted on their formation by problems of gravity and far-reach-ing importance such as face the new Conservative Prime Minister, Mr. R. B. Bennett, and his associates. Less than two weeks after the General Election which saw the defeat of the Liberal Administration, beaded by Mr. Mackenzie King, the new Cabinet had taken over the conduct of publiraffairs and every Minister was at his desk. Tremendous responsibility rested on the broad shoulders of Mr. Bennett, who celebrated his 60th birthday during the heat of the campaign. He had to prepare for the special session of Parliament called for early Septem her, to deal with the problem of unemployment. It was necessary to prepare for the Imperial Conference in Louden at the end of the same month —plan his programme, choose and advise the Ministers who are to attend him. He had to guide and instruct his colleagues. 11 of whom were new to Cabinet rank, land including six who had never before sat in Parliament. Furthermore, as Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister could lose little time in setting in motion preparations for the extensive tariff revision certain to be incorporated in the first Conservative Budget. In the Cabinet of 19 are nine men who are. or have been, practising lawyers, three doctors, a farmer, a journalist, a broker, a telegrapher, a druggist, a lumberman and a merchant. In the new House of Commons there are 70 lawyers, 44 farm ers, 29 doctors, 19 merchants and smaller numbers representing many other occupations.

According to their religious faiths the Cabinet has five Roman Catholics and 14 Protestants, the latter including eight members of the United Church of Canada, four Presbyterians, one Anglican and one Baptist. Their ages vary from 42 to 73. Ontario has seven portfolios, Quebec five and each of the seven other provinces one Three of the number from Quebec are French-speaking Canadians. One Minister, the Hon. Gideon Robertson, had a seat in the Senate, but it lias been announced that he will give place presently to a member of the Commons. Another, the Hon. E. X. Rhodes, gave up the Premiership of Nova Scotia to take the portfolio of Fisheries with Mr. Bennett. The Prime Minister receives a salarv of 15,000 dollars, and each or his Ministers 10.000 dollars, with an additional 4.000 dollars in each case as sessional indemnity. Mr. King, as Leader of the Opposition, will receive the- salary of 10.000 dollars provided by law for the post, plus the sessional indemnity.