AT a time When almost everyone is crying out about the enormous coat of governing the country, and anxiously looking for a reduction in departmental expenditure, we find the new Ministry coolly announcing their intention of asking Parliament to sanction the salary of another Minister. It is said that to ensure the well being of the mining in dustry it is necessary that its interests should be looked after by a gentle man holding a separate portfolio, and of course receiving £1260 a year like each of his colleagues. We admit at once that enough attention has not been bestowed on the mines. The port folio has been held in conjunction with either one or two others. The Depart ment has generally been slaw to act in routine matters, has shown little or no disposition to accommodate itself to the needs of the miners, and has rendered only insignificant service in developing an indus try which has done great things for the colony in the past, and may be expected, under efficient management, to do far more in the future. But whilst admitting these shortcomings, we cannot see that a case has been made out for sanctioning an eighth salaried Minister. Before the House gives its consent it should satisfy itself that no reasonable arrangement is possible by which one of the existing salaries can be set free, and the portfolios hitherto connected with it be re-allotted. We are convinced that there is really no insuperable difficulty in the way, if the Premier would deter mine that it should be done. Thera is an ugly rumour that political or party exigencies have a good deal to do with the proposal for an eighth Minister, and that the welfare of the mining industry is at most a scondary consideration. On a future occasion wo shall have more to say on the subject.
