RESHUFFLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 102, 1 May 1940, Page 6

RESHUFFLED.

The new Prime Minister has completed the rearrangement of portfolios following upon the death of Mr. Savage, in accordance with the aiTangement entered into between himself and the Labour caucus, under which the existing Cabinet Ministers were confirmed in office on the understanding that the whole position would be reviewed at the end of the year, when each of the Ministers will have been in office for five years. It was thought probable that one new appointment would have been made to bring the total up to that originally tixed, but With a whole army of potential generals Mr. Fraser has been diplomatic in not offending many to satisfy one. The rearrangement is on the whole a good one. Mr. Fraser has very wisely cut away i from most of his Departmental duties in order that he may more adequately envisage the general scene and supervise and co-ordinate matters of major policy. The only important Departments of which he retains control are Broadcasting and Police. The first certainly requires a Minister of more than the average firmness, one who will see that instructions are not evaded, while in the case of the Police Department, important as it is, the organisation is working with such ease and success that it will not take up much of the Minister's time. Mr. Nash has dropped the Social Security and the State Insurance portfolios, but he is still heavily overburdened with Departmental duties. Mr. Jones is relieved of all portfolios save Defence and War Pensions. With a war on, 1 that decision was essential. He has a man-sized task, from which nothing [should distract his attention.