MR CHIFLEY’S DEPUTY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 7

MR CHIFLEY’S DEPUTY

DR. EVATT CHOSEN ' BY CAUCUS NEW CABINET MEMBERS APPROVED (N.Z. Pres® Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA, Oct. 31. The Minister of External Affairs (Dr. H. V. Evatt) to-day was elected Deputy-Prime Minister. Five candidates submitted themselves for election after the caucus had reappointed Mr Chifley as leader. They were Dr. Evatt, Mr E. J. Ward, Mr J J. Dedman. Mr A. A. Calwell, and Mr A. S. Drakeford. Mr Drakeford was first eliminated from the ballot, and was followed immediately by Mr Calwell and Mr Dedman. There was a tense silence as the returning officer. Mr J. S. Rosevear, reentered the party room to count the votes. The more extreme elements would Lave preferred either Mr Ward or Mr Calwell as Deputy-Prime Minister, and when Mr Calwell was eliminated apparently most of his supporters voted for Mr Ward. Dr. Evatt won by 42 votes to 33, illustrating the strength of the .Left Wing section of the caucus which included many new Senators. The caucus then began ballotinn for the Cabinet. In' the first ballot all the House of Representative members of the old Cabinet were returned with the exception of the Minister of Housing (Mr H. P. Lazzarini). Elected are Messrs Dedman, E. J. Holloway, Calwell, W. J. Scully, Ward, Drakeford, H. V. Johnson, N. Lemmon, and R. T. Pollard, and Senators W. P. Ashley and N. E. McKenna. Two new members are Mr Lemmon, a young, capable West Australian, and Mr Pollard, once a Minister in the Victorian Government. Other new Ministers elected by the caucus were Senator J. I. Armstrong (New South Wales), Senator B. Courtice (Queensland), and Mr Cyril Chambers (South Australia). The Postmaster-General (Senator D. Cameron) was re-elected after a hard fight. The Minister of Trade and Customs (Senator J. M. Fraser) was eliminated.

Mr Chifley will probably allocate the portfolios to-morrow. The Cabinet was completed with the selection of two new Ministers, Mr W. J. Riordan, a barrister (Queensland) and Mr C. Barnard, a former Uhion secretary (Tasmania)- Mr Lazzarini wai eliminated.