THE ELECTIVE MINISTRY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13052, 21 April 1910, Page 4

THE ELECTIVE MINISTRY.

Ar-UABENTLY the beginning of the Elective Ministry is showing itself in Australia. In forming a Ministry the general practice is for the loader of the victorious party to choose his own colleagues, thereby causing a great deal of wire-pulling, a largo amount of pressure by conflicting and not a little jealousy on the part of disappointed would-be Ministers. The Australian Labour Party, if the cabled statement be correct, is proceeding on different lines. The party holds a meeting next Tuesday, when it will select from its number men to fill tbe various portfolios. This ought to bo a decided relief to tbe Premier, for which position Mr Fisher will no doubt be chosen. If tho party select the Ministers, though there may possiblv bo some wire-pulling—-for no humanly-cievised system can ever be mute perfect, nor wholly do away with objectionable practices—yet there will be no soreness against the Premier himself on the part of this one or that one not selected. The result ought to bo greater concord in the Ministry itself—it is rarely a Ministry is a completely happy family—and greater unanimity among the party also. From this to the election of Ministers, not by a party, but by the whole Parliament, is but a short step, and as tbe dominating party in Australia is known to . be in favour of the Elective Ministry principle, the indications seem to be that before very long the Commonwealth will be found to have adopted it. It has already been adopted for the State Parliaments of United Sontli Africa.