CABINET POST

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 4

CABINET POST

CAUCUS NOMINATES MR O’BRIEN

NO INDICATION YET OF PORTFOLIO (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. On the first vote, the caucus of the Labour Party to-day recommended that Mr James O’Brien, member of Parliament for Westland, should fill the vacancy in the Executive Council caused by the death of the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. No decision was matte as to the duties which Mr O’Brien will take up. although it is obvious that the portfolio of Public Works will revert to the Hon. R. Semple. No decision was made on the vacancy which is threatened by the announcement in Ottawa of the JHigh Commissioner to Canada (the Hon. F. Langstone) that on his return to New Zealand he will resign from theCabinet. Mr Langstone, who holds the portfolio of Minister of Lands, is reported to be in Australia, and is expected to return to New Zealand next week. The selection of Mr O’Brien for Ministerial rank was known less than two hours after the caucus began its sitting this morning, and the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) announced later that Mr O'Brien’s name would be presented in due course to the Governor-General for appointment to such portfolios as might be allocated to him.

The Prime Minister further announced that Mr A. S. Richards (Roskill) would succeed Mr O’Brien as Senior Government Whip, and that Mr D. W. Coleman (Gisborne) had been

appointed Junior Whip. Mr Coleman was among the men believed to be strongly favoured by Mr Fraser for appointment to the Cabinet vacancy. It is probable that Mr A. G. Osborne (Onehunga) and Mr J. Thorn (Thames) will be appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretaries to the Prime Min - ister to enable Mr Fraser to be relieved of routine work and to permit him to be in closer touch personally with defence and civil defence works throughout the country. If these members are appointed the Government will again indicate its support for the appointment of under-seen 1 - laries. Provision for their appointment has been made by statute, but the only appointment made before was that of Mr J. A. Lee lo the Ministry of Housing, and his appointment was revoked before he was expelled from the Labour Party at the Easter conference in 1940.

Mr O'Brien’s selection has caused some surprise. Although he has been Chief Whip, ho is known to have been among the lenders of the minorily group at the caucus which has been outspoken in its criticism of the course which the party has been following since the last General Election. Mr O’Brien is also known lo have strongly opposed the postponement last year of the General Election.

Now G7 years of age. Mr O’Brien was associated with the Speaker of the Legislative Council itho Kon. Mark Fagan) in Australia in his youth. He worked there as a shop assistant, miner, engineer, prospector, and a labourer in the sugar-cane fields. He was born at Forest Creek, Victor;.), and he came to New Zealand at the age of 2!) years, working first at gold mining in the Runanga district before going to Runanga, whore ho worked as an engineer in the Stale mines for many years, and became president of the ’ State Minos Engine Drivers’ Union. He was the first chairman of directors of the “Grey River Argus,” the Labour daily newspaner, of which he is now manager. He has been president of the Greymouth Labour Representation Committee and the Grey Labour Party. He was first returned to Parliament for Westland in 1022. Three years later he was defeated by 12 votes, but he won the seat again in the 1928 election and has been in Parliament ever since.