THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1919. THE MINISTRY.

Wairarapa Age, 20 December 1919, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1919. THE MINISTRY.

, One of the first responsibilities that ' will fall upon the Right Hon. W. P. :i, rMasaey will be in tho direction of c "Ministerial reconstruction. The portfolio of Public Works will be vacant, and the defeat of the Hon. J. B. Hine 1 will necessitate another, appointment. Tho portfolio of Education is at 1 present held by Sir Francis Bell, who belongs to the nominated Chamber, .'and is not responsible to tho people. "".It is scarcoly conceivable that so (important a Department of State can be satisfactorily controlled by other than $ member of the House of Representatives. The time has arrived when tho Prime Minister should consider whether it is not desirable to endea.vour to bring about a f combination of the two moderate sections in the House, leaving the f extreme Labourites to occupy the 1 Opposition Benches. In his pre-election 1 speocb.es, Mr. Massey emphasised the importance of selecting the men who were most fitted for Parliamentary servioe, irrespective of the party to which they belonged. If he was

sincere in the sentiments he expressec —and we believe he was—he will nov strive to break down the barriers thai divide the Liberal and Reform Parties This could bo accomplished by offering seats in tfee Cabinet to some of th( most prominent Liberals. The port folio of Education might wit! advantage bo offered to the Hon. J. A Hanan, who has shown conspicuous ability in this Department, and who as a member of the National Cabinet introduced reforms which he should be afforded an opportunity oi t developing. Then, the portfolio of 'Agriculture could scarcely be placed ' in b,otter hands than those of the Hon, D, S. MaijDonald, and this notwithstanding the criticism to which he was i subjected over the butter levy. Mr. T. M. Wilford might also bo offered the portfolio of Justioe, though, at the hustings, he declared that he would not hold office in a Massey Cabinet. What the country requires at the present critical period in its history is tho best administrative and constructive talent that is available in ; the Dominion. There can be little doubt, that the contests of the future will be between tho moderate and extreme sections of-the community. It seems to üb, therefore, that the present opportunity is Bingularly favourable •to tho bringing about of a fusion between tho Liberals and Reformers, which would add to tho stability of tho Government and ensure the development of our national resources along sound, progressive, and democratic lines.