OUR POLITICAL TITAN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160734, 21 August 1920, Page 4

OUR POLITICAL TITAN.

Commenting on the objections raised by the member for Wanganui to An Massey holding so many portfolios, the Christchurch Sun says;— Air Vcitci, like ourselves, thinks that Mr nlassoj is overloaded with portfolios. When the member for Wanganui ycnluiod to say so, enclosing a compliment en route,"Mr Massey retorted: ‘‘l am sure I don’t look like it.” And ho added; “What portfolios am I carrying that I am not able to carry?” The J rime Minister, wh was in excellent form, protested good naturedly against tic statement. But the fact that ho neither looks nor feels as though ho were overloaded is not the point. Jo possesses broad shoulders and an abnormal capacity for hard, sustained work. So far, he has made no mistakes; or any mistakes that matter. Even so, Mr Veitch has not been answered. Mr Massey is administering we forget how many departments—a bunch of them—but the test is whether he is doing them all justice. We feel that it is impossible for him to do so. The fact of the matter is that the Prime Minister is something of an autocrat, as well as a vain man. 1.1 o has got the reputation of being a strong man, and strong man—nay even stronger than that!— he will be despite the best advice of his friends and critics. This is a pleasant conceit of his which may be all right from his own point of view, but not so satisfactory from the country’s. And hand-in-hand with this vanity goes the conviction that his

colleagues are not to be trusted with additional Ministerial responsibilities. At least, that is one of the inferences j to be drawn from Mr Massey’s assump- ■ tiou of the roio of political Titan, it ft has hoon truly said that weight will stop Die lines! racehorse just as a load f may be too heavy for the most powerful of engines. Our stalwart Prime Minister might well take the hint. When next ho feels inclined to distend his chest, square his shoulders, and boast of his prowess, let him stop and ask himself if he is not really doing things which might he better done by another Minister. This strong-man pose is amusing, hut it may have a serious side.