THE CABINET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8200, 2 August 1906, Page 6

THE CABINET.

A MINISTER'S VIEWS. The Hon. T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands, replying on Tuesday night to the toast of "The Ministry," at the farewell gathering tendered to tho late secretary of the Liberel and Labour Federation, said it was generally recognised that the prosent was only a "stop-gap" Ministry. As all were aware, it was decided by Cabinet, when their late lamented chief passed away, that they could just carry on until Sir Joseph Ward's arrival in the colony, and then the destiny of this country would be left entirely in his hands. In a few days, he supposed—ho did not think it would be very long -the present Premier, Mr HallJones, would resign, and they expeoted Sir Joseph to be sent for. Sir Joseph would have a free hand to form his Cabinet from the members of the House, a Cabinet that could do the work of the country in the best way. In the meantime, so to speak, they were only "marking time." He thought, however, that he could say without fear of contradiction, that their present Premier, Mr llall-Jones, had acted in a way that had commended itself to tho whole colony. Mr Hall-Jones was not one of those who himself sought the position, for he had had an opportunity to form a Cabinet and to meet the Parliament if he had so widtoed at the time he was sent for. He was unfettered, but he had raaae up his mind that the course he followed was the best one, and he bad been commended for it. He had carried out tne duties of Premier in a way that was very highly creditable to him during a very trying time of suspense and trouble, and without friction. They had now arrived at a stage when within a few days they would have Sir Joseph Ward as Premier He did not know whether that was the time or place to go into politics, but he might say this: That the Government of which the late Mr Seddon was the bead was the strongest New Zealand had ever bad, notwithstanding the criticism of tho press to the contrary. Two or three members of that Cabinet nad invariably been singled out for rejection. Personally, such critioism had not, hurt him, either in the House or out of it. At the election h 9 had the largest majority he had ever bad, and the people of his electorate were just aboul: as shrewd farmers and business men as could bu found in any part of the oolony. He not a stranger among his constituents, for he had lived in the electorate ha represented for nearly forty years. Nor was he a, stranger in Parliament, because be bad served there for a period of over twenty-four years. "So," he added, "the 'Post' may go on kicking away; it won't hurt me. (Laughter). In any case I don't care tu'penoe- what happens, whether I'm in the Ministry or out of it I can just go home in a week's time or so, back to my work, as cheerful as anything, whether Sir Joseph Ward chooses to place me there or not." Speaking from experience he Could say that. Sir Joseph Wara was a man who knew what politics wore, what was good for the country and what was bad, and he was sure Sir Joseph could be trusted to form a Government that would be a credit to him and to the colony. The polioy that had been initiated by his (the speaker's) predecessor, the late Sir John Mckenzie, and carried out by himself (Mr Duncan) had stood well to the oolony, Lut he did not seek the position at all at the time it was offered to nini. Ho had plenty to do at home, and perhaps if he had stayed at home he would have teen better off personally. Hut politics was a queer thing; aud if a man once began he did not want to let his end Of the stiok go down, and if he had the welfare of the oolony at heart, it epuired him on to do bis very best, He believed the colony would go on prospering as it had done in the past, because ha bad faith in Sir Joseph Ward, who would hold the position of Premier with credit and do honour to the oolony. In the course of his (Mr Duncan's) political life he had noticed that the harder a man was hit the better work generally he did. They all knew what bad been said of tbeir best men. He remembered a good many Premiers during the last twenty-five years, and all bad equally come undei the lash, one with the other; aud the lashing was kept up at long as they lived, but the moment they died they were "jolly good fellows."—N.Z. Times.