ALTERATIONS IN CABINET

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26516, 3 September 1951, Page 3

ALTERATIONS IN CABINET

MINOR CHANGES MAY SOON BE MADE BURDEN ON MR WATTS TO BE EASED From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON. September 2. Although all members of the Executive Council were returned at the polls yesterday, changes will soon be made in the Cabinet of the National Government. The changes will be comparatively slight The principal al teration will be to appoint a Minister to replace the former Minister of External Affairs, Mr F. W. Doidge, who fa now on his way to London to take up his post as High Commissioner for New Zealand. Changes will be made in the portfolios now held by Mr J. T. Watts When the National Party took office Mr Watts was appointed Minister of Health and of Social Security. At the end of last year he was also given the rrtfolio of Industries and Commerce. is now realised that he is carrying too heavy a burden, and it is believed that he will be relieved of the portfolios of Health and Social Security. He would then be able to give his full time to Industries and Commerce, associated with which is the Board of Trade, and the portfolio of Supply would also probably be added. It was the intention of the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) to give the adJtoatatration of price control to Mr Watts, but he is undecided at the moment It is known that he is attodfing major importance to this, and he may make some entirely new arrangement to permit of a general imin price control adminisMr Watts’s portfolio of Social Security will probably go to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. A. Bodkin), tot it is not known what the Prime Minister has in mind about the Health portfolio. me present Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (Mr T. C. Webb) is WKist certain to take over External Affairs and Island Territories. _ Broadcasting Portfolio The other principal portfolio previously held by Mr Doidge, that of Broadcasting, will probably go to the Minister Assistant to the Prime Minister ahd Minister in charge of the jtate Advances Corporation (Mr J. BMarshall). It is problematical whether Mr Webb could handle the portfolios of both External Affairs and AttorneyGeneral, particularly if he is called on w attend overseas conferences. Here, Jowever, the Government will make hul use of the presence in London of Mr Doidge. . _U_.it ig decided to separate these portfolios, then Mr Marshall who is a Wrister and solicitor in Wellington, rjud he a logical choice as the new Attorney -General. .The Minister of Customs (Mr C. M. "OteMn) will remain a full Minister “teWUI retain this portfolio. Previously there had been some “®»t about the health of the Post-{"•“ter-General (Mr W. J. Broadfoot), f™ he has made a remarkable re--o*®? and will retain his place in the .The reshuffle may cause one vacancy Cabinet. The obvious course be to promote one of the pres-Under-Secretaries to the position y, J Assistant Minister. The Under7*Uetaries are Messrs S. W. Smith f*g*®), W. A. Sheat (Patea), and Neale (Nelson). any replacement as Under-Secre-SL those who would have strong 2®®3 would include the Junior Gov(Mr R. G. Gerard, will be no changes in the ff“uons of Speaker of the House of (Mr M. H. Oram, fjoawatu), the Chairman of Coinmit(Mr C. G. E. Harker, Hawke’s W), and the Chief Government Whip A. S Qi if VinrlnTTalvwalrf)