THE NEW CABINET.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17586, 15 December 1928, Page 11

THE NEW CABINET.

RECEPTION BY PUBLIC. GENERALLY FAVOURABLE. STRONGLY EQUIPPED TEAM. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues have good reason to be well pleased by the general attitude of both the metropolitan and the provincial press towards the new Government. Some of the Reform publications that had held on to the old Conservative traditions long after they had been abandoned by Mr Massey and his followers, are predicting only a short reign for Sir Joseph and an early collapse of his party. But a great majority of the newspapers, including several of those that dubbed the United Party's leader "a past number" and the party itself an "insignificant factor" in the contest, admit that the new Ministry looks at least as strongly equipped as was its predecessor and that it is entitled to all reasonable assistance in proving itself before the country. So far both the Reform Party, now the official Opposition, and the- Labour Party, again out in the wilderness, have borne themselves with exemplary propriety in this respect, and Mr Goates and Mr H. E. Holland can be trusted to continue "playing the game." The Old War Horse. The reinstated Prime Minister is surprising even many of his close personal friends by his physical vitality and his mental alertness. His would appear to be another case of the old war horse inspired by the scent of battle. He has settled down to the Ministerial routine as if he had been absent from the Treasury only during a sitting of an Imperial Conference or during a diplomatic jaunt to Australia. His speech in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, in reply to the statements made by Mr Coates and Mr 11. E. Holland in regard to their attitude towards the Government, was one of the best efforts he has made for a very long time, and the fact that he is one of the most difficult men in Parliament to report will not prevent it making very illuminative' reading in Hansard. It is true that he is weighted with the instruction of a number of inexperienced colleagues; but his recruits are men of the right type and will not take long to master all the intricacies of their jobs. Hard Work. That Sir Joseph Ward is going to he over-worked, particularly during I ho first year of his return visit to (lie Treasury Benches, goes without .saying. Every member of the Cabinet who throws himself heart and soul into his "job" is overworked. The fact that Sir Joseph has taken over lo himself a number of other portfolios than that of Finance, however, need not seriously trouble his friends. The Public Trust, State Advances, and Land and Income Tax Departments are closely allied with the Finance Department, and Sir Joseph probably will be rattier helped than hindered by

i having them immediately under his own eye. Nor is the presence of two or three parliamentary debutants in the Ministry going to greatly incommode its leader. They arc of the type that will need little tuition, and what they do require will be readily obtained from the heads of departments. At

the moment the Hon. G. W. Forbes, with the portfolios of Lands and Agriculture, looks the member of the Cabinet most likely to be worked to death. ___________ !