THE CABINET.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20574, 16 June 1932, Page 8

THE CABINET.

♦— TEMPORARY REARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS. (PRXS# ASSOCIATION TIL* ORAM.) WELLINGTON, June 15. The rearrangement of Cabinet- portfolios which will be made necessary by the absence at the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon, W. Downie Stewart was discussed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, on his return from Christchurch to-day. Mr Forbes said he would take over the portfolios of Finance and Customs from Mr Downie Stewart. The Attor-ney-Generalship, which was also held by Mr Downie Stewart, would probably be administered in his absence by the Minister for Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata. Although this question had not been discussed, Employment would be taken over during Mr Coates's absence by tho Postmaster-General and Minister for Labour, the Hon. A: Hamilton. Departmental control of the Labour and Employment Departments has now been vested in one head, and as it is intended to use the organisation of the Labour Department to assist the unemployment relief administration, the temporary assumption of Employment will be made easier for Mr Hamilton.

Questioned concerning the personnel of the delegation, the Prime Minister said he thought Mr Coates would go to Ottawa, although he knew he was considering the question.