Mr. Hanbnry, having been admitted to the Cabinet as Minister
for Agricultare, is bound by an antiquated law to seek re-election at the hands of his constituents. He accord- ingly on Monday night addressed the Conservative Associa- tion in a speech on which we have elsewhere commented at length. It was an able exposure of the absurdity of the system under which a Member already freely elected is punished for having found favour in the eyes of the chief of his party. Mr. Hanbury, who says frankly that his " satisfac- tion" at his promotion is not "exuberant," will not be punished much; but when there is opposition, the custom inflicts on the promoted one a rather sharp fine. A case might occur, no doubt, in which a constituency objected to be represented by a Minister, but as a rule, as Mr. Han bury pointed out, electors are delighted to have their judgment so confirmed by the Premier. He uttered a sharp protest, too, against the rather silly fancy that every Department should be presided over by an expert. There are plenty of experts in each Department, and the business of the chief is to use them for efficient administration. He might have added that it was his business also to correct their necessarily narrow views by the breeder experience gained in other fields.
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