POSTMASTER GENERAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19804, 17 December 1929, Page 12

POSTMASTER GENERAL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD EXPLAINS CHANGE. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, December 16. A further statement was issued by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to-day to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen as the result of his announcement on Saturday with regard to the Hon. ,\lr Donald relinquishing the portfolio of PostmasterGeneral. "It has been brought to my notice," said Sir Joseph, "that the statement published in Saturday's Press in regard to my assumption of the portfolio of Postmaster-General has conveyed a very wrong impression to the public. I wish it clearly to be understood that in taking over this Department at this time I do not do so through any lack of confidence in the Hon. Mr Donald's ability, or through any feeling of dissatisfaction with his administration of tho Department during his tenure of office. On the contrary, Mr Donald's work has merited and received the complete approval of myself, my colleagues, and, I think, the public. I feel, however, that my former long experience in and knowledge of the Department may enable me to complete more rapidly the investigations which Mr Donald has already for some months been conducting, and apply such remedies as may be necessnrv.''