NEW CABINET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1940, Page 8

NEW CABINET.

NO DECISION YET.

LABOUR MEMBERS.

WILL THEY BE CONSULTED?

MR. SCHRAMM MENTIONED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this da\. Members of the Cabinet returned to Wellington by special train at 11.15 a.m. to-day after attending the late Prime Minister's funeral in Auckland. A number of Labour members are also in town, though it is reported that the party's caucus will uot be held for a few days. Members of the Nationalist Opposition will meet on Wednesday.

It is expected that the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, will be sent for by the Governor-General, Lord (Jalway, this afternoon and requested to form a Ministry. It is not thought likely that he will be in a position to submit a Cabinet list immediately, and a point of vivid interest at thL> stage is whether he will first consult Labour members, thus giving them a part in the Cabinet selection. The late Prime Minister determinedly asserted the traditional right to name his colleagues. He had intense loyalty for those concerned in the early days of the party's struggles, and even after the original Cabinet, of Labour stalwart* had held office for one Parliament he declined to introduce new blood, though young recruits have a majority in the caucus.

The important question is whether the Prime Minister-designate considers that loyalty to the Labour veterans has been sufficiently recognised. If so, several Ministerial changes wiil occur. In fact one Minister has privately indicated hie willingness to make way for a new appointee. However, if* Mr. Fraser decides to maintain his old leader's policy there is one vacancy onlv, for which Mr. K. W. Schramm, member for Auckland East, is a certainty. He is a solicitor and served for 18 months in the forces in the Great War.