WAR CABINET

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 6

WAR CABINET

APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBER RON. W. PERRY, M.L.C From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 10. The Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., has been appointed a member of the War Cabinet in succession to the Rt. Hon, J. G. Coates. This announcement was made to-day by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser A Mr Perry is president of the Returned Services’ Association. He was sworn in to-day as a member of the Executive Council. Mr Perry is the third Minister in the Legislative Council. The leader of the Council (the Hon. D. Wilson) is Minister in charge of Broadcasting and Minister of Civil Defence, and the Hon. A. McLagan is Minister of National Service. The selection of Mr Perry as a member of the War Cabinet is seen in parliamentary circles as fresh evidence of the desire of the Government to have the War Cabinet as widely representative as possible, and to have a man with military experience in its membership. Mr Perry was appointed to the Legislative Council by the Forbes-Coates Government in 1934. and was reappointed at the end of his term by the Labour Government. He served in France for more than three years in the last war, and was wounded in action, losing his right arm. Mr Perry, who is a barrister and solicitor by profession, was born in Westland. He graduated LL.B. at Victoria College in 1907. Before the last war he was a member of the Wellington Rugby Union committee, and the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council. After he returned from the war he toolc,a prominent part in the affairs of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He was president of the Wellington Association from 1920 to 1922, and in 1935 succeeded Major-General Sir Andrew Russell as Dominion president. He has held this office ever since. He became even more widely known when he was elected president of the New Zealand Defence League in 1936. Shortly before the outbreak of war he made a speaking tour of New Zealand, urging greater military preparedness. When the War Council was set up in 1940 he was one of the members. The Council was later superseded by the War Administration. Mr Perry has been president of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, and a member of the New Zealand Trotting executive. He was a member of the executive of the former United Party.

A Press Association message says that the Dominion Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association issued the following statement: “Mr Perry discussed the matter of his anpointment with the executive, which unanimously endorsed his action in accepting the responsibilities of the high office to which he has been called in the interest of the country. The executive unanimously requested Mr Perry to continue in office as president until consideration could be given to the whole matter, and that in the meantime, a chairman of the executive committee be appointed to relieve the president of that duty.”