The Ministry and Its Ministers

vital necessity. It is true that we over here are not in quite such a deplorable condition as America, which suffers a complete change of all Government officials, even down to the postmaster of the smallest village, with each change of administration ; bat even so, we are surely bad enough ! It is understandable and reasonable enough that the Ministries dealing with such matters as Foreign Affairs, the Colonies, Trade, or any other department whose policy must necessarily depend on the general policy of the Government at the moment in power, should be controlled by members of that Government; but in a Ministry which is?or should be?solely concerned with social welfare there is no such necessity. The head of such a department should be as secure of office, as free from political bids as is, by tradition, the Speaker. The only qualifications necessary should be efficiency and a thorough understanding of the work to be done. M. W. Maxwell.