The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1920. CABINET MINISTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14265, 16 January 1920, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1920. CABINET MINISTERS

Mr Massey lias an unusually good opportunity to try Mis 'hand at Cabinetmaking, and the country will anxiously await the result of his efforts. It seems to be understood that Sir James Allen is to go Home to till the new position created by the Imperial Council, and this will create a vacancy in the office of Minister of Finance. The new position should be one of great importance, and Sir James Allen has fairly earned the right to (ill it. His appointment would meet with general approval throughout the country, and those who interest themselves in Imperial affairs would hope to sec him make his mark. Wo do not know Sir James Allen’s views on the question of a closer connection between the various parts of the Empire, and in any case he must necessarily keep pace with his colleagues, but we hope that he may be able to exercise some influence in furthering the matter. He will be missed here, for the Reform party are not well provided with financiers. It would perhaps be fairer to say that the House is not well provided, for there are extremely few members on cither side who lake any interest whatever in the subject. Yet the position is one of great importance at all times, and likely to be so to an even greater extent in the near future. Wo have repeatedly pointed out that the question of currency underlies all the eco-

nomic problems at the present time, and that the constant rise of prices is tlic indication of an unsafe condition. To a large extent this results from causes outside New Zealand, and it will call for attention from the Government, while the Minister of Finance should he the man especially fitted to deal with the matter. In normal times a Finance Minister stands more in need of courage than of science, courage to withstand the never-ceasing attacks on the Treasury made by those who are always ready to carry out philanthropic plans id other people’s expense. The courage will be wanted now as much as over, but science is also required, and as the House is constituted at present Mr Massey will be lucky if he finds it. There will be no difficulty in raising a large revenue; just now the one thing that is not in short supply is money. The difficulty will be to make even a large revenue cover expenses in the constantly rising condition of the markets for labour and materials, and in the country’s need for a policy of active development. This brings us to the other important position which is vacant, the portfolio of Public Works. There has demand made that this position should be filled by a North Island member, and considering the relative requirements of the two Islands such a demand seems perfectly justified. At the same time, it seems to us more important to obtain the best man, and most important to make a new departure in the method of carrying on Public Works. The country is not getting value for money, and considering the amount annually expended, which will certainly be more in the future rather than less, this is a matter which cries aloud for alteration. What is the justification for maintaining the co-operative system? When there was a difficulty in finding employment it was desirable to have works in progress which would employ surplus labour on something desirable. Now, however, the situation is reversed, and labour is in demand in all directions, and is likely to remain so for some years to come. The Government would do well to gradually drop the system, and will be all the stronger for avoiding the necessity of haggling with labourers over the wages •to 'be paid. The main point to be considered, however, is to obtain a different point of view. Hitherto public works have been regarded as a means of providing employment for labour, and political support for Governments. What is required now from the Department is the provision of certain definite objects. It is for the House under the guidance of the Government to decide on the works to he put in hand, but they would do well if they entrusted the execution to a non-political board. It may be too much to ask that such ■ a board should decide the order in which works shall he undertaken, but if this cannot be done the execution at least should be free from politics. The country’s record in the matter of public works during the past few years is not good, but for this there arc of course excuses. There are no excuses to be made now, and there arc strong reasons for an active policy, which Mr Massey has promised to carry out, and ' which the country will expect. The railways arc another department in which there is certainly room for improvement. There are arrears of : work due to war for which no one is , to blame, but it is expected that these will be overtaken within a reasonable time. A Minister of Defence is also to be appointed, and a suggestion has ' been made that a soldier should be selected for the position. We trust Mr Massey will avoid this pitfall. The soldier’s profession and the politician’s are quite distinct, and the office of Minister of Defence should be filled by a civilian who will attend to the political side and leave the’military side to the military men. Those who demand a soldier as Defence Minister might with equal plausibility ask for a civil engineer as Minister of Public Works. Such’ suggestions arise from confusing the political and the technical side of the departments. Another suggestion which has been made is that Mr Massey should invite the assistance of the Opposition in the formation of the (Cabinet. He is not in the least likely to do anything of the kind, and it is not desirable that he should. An Opposition has a definite function, that of criticism, and ihe legislation and the , administration will both he the better for it. There is no power in a democratic country to control a Government, ’ and an active Opposition is the one and only check which exists. We do not suppose for one moment that the present Government contemplate any rash action, hut at the same time they will be the better for knowing that there are members prepared to point out any 1 errors or deficiencies which may exist, and such action carried cut in the right manner is only second in importance to that of Government.