DEAD HAND SUSPECTED IN CABINET MOVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 9

DEAD HAND SUSPECTED IN CABINET MOVE.

“ N.Z. TIMES ” DISPLEASED WITH NEW APPOINTMENT. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 24. Commenting on the Cabinet appointment, the “New Zealand Times” modifies its former enthusiastic eulogies of the Coates Government under the heading, “Cabinet-making and a Dead Hand.” It says: “After considerable and prolonged travail Cabinet has produced a new Minister'of Education, a readjustment of certain portfolios and a promise of a Minister for Public Works to succeed Mr Coates. It is not a spectacular accouchement. This country is paying well over three millions for its education system and is not getting results. There have been too manv experimentalists, or faddists, in control and the product bears a strong resemblance to a patchw’ork quilt. The lack, over years, of a clear-headed, continuing policy has proved both costly and unsatisfactory. Mr Wright may be able to right the situation, and, again, he may not. Without disrespect we suggest that a less formidable portfolio might have been entrusted to him. Here and there in the reshuffle we suspect a dead hand which we had hoped was buried beyond all chance of resurrection. Our own view is that in matters such as these two qualities should be paramount: proved character and capacity. These should precede mere length of service or geographical considerations, for obvious reasons. There is only one way to avoid being broken by effete tradition and that is to break with it early. We pass on the reminder to the Government of the day.”

The view of the “Dominion” is that Mr Coates has evolved a combination capable of working as a team. The total reconstruction may be less extensive and far-reaching than many people expected it to be, but it is only fair to recognise that Mr Coates was faced by a difficult task of selection. It adds: “It will no doubt be the general verdict that the appointment of Mr Wright is definitely a case of promotion by merit. Mr Wright has a long record of worthy service in Parliament and on local bodies. Although he has very often found himself at grips with Labour and Socialist extremists, his own leanings are distinctly Radical and as Member of Parliament he has never allowed the trammels of his party to prevent his taking an independent stand on questions of principle. The new Minister’s extended experience on the local Education Board no doubt will stand him in good stead.”