Before leaving the subject of the Ministry we desire to
express our satisfaction that the Government intend to raise the salaries of the President of the Board of Trade and of the President of the Local Government Board to £5,000 a year each,—that is, to the sum paid to Secretaries of State. This is a reform which should have taken place long ago, and we think the Cabinet have been most wise not to trouble them- selves with the thought that they will be accused by foolish persons of raising their own pay. It is absurd that the status of two of the most important offices in the Cabinet should not be made equal to the other posts in the Ministry. In our opinion, indeed, the pay of all Cabinet Ministers should be equal, but a certain entertainment allowance should be made to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
