Mr Gerard Appointed Minister Of Marine

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28198, 9 February 1957, Page 12

Mr Gerard Appointed Minister Of Marine

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 8. Mr R. G. Gerard, member of Parliament for Ashburton, will join the Cabinet as a result of changes made necessary by Mr W. Sullivan’s forthcoming retirement from politics. This and other changes resulting from the allocation of Mr Sullivan's portfolios were announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) at today’s meeting of the caucus of the Government party.

Mr Gerard will become Minister ©f Social Security, Minister of Marine, and Minister in charge of the Government Printing Office. Mr Sullivan’s senior portfolios. Labour and Mines, will go to Mr J. K. McAlpine, who will retain the portfolio of Railways, but will relinquish to Mr Gerard responsibilities for Marine and the Government Printing Office. The new Minister of Housing find Minister in charge of the State Advances Corporation—other portfolios held by Mr Sullivan—will be Mr D. J. Eyre. Mr Eyre will retain his responsibilities for Police and Tourist and Health Resorts, but will relinquish the portfolio of Social Security to Mr Gerard. Mr Holland also announced that Mr John Rae. member for Roskill. will become a Government Whip. Mr Gerard was Senior Government Whip. The other Government Whip is Mr E. P. Aderman, member for New Plymouth, but Mr Holland’s announcement did not indicate the new Senior Whip. Mr Sullivan’s resignation is expected to become effective towards the end of next week. Comment by Mr Holland Mr Holland said after the caucus •djourned that the reallocation of portfolios made necessary by Mr Sullivan’s resignation had caused him much thought because of the foremost place occupied by the retiring Minister and the very considerable potential Ministerial talent which was available in the ranks of the Government Party. “Mr Sullivan will be greatly missed,” Mr Holland said. “He has given yeoman service to the Gpvernment and to the country, and has been a most popular Minister. I believe that through him was shown the understanding of the National Party for the aspirations of the average working man and woman. Everybody will remember his handling of the 1951 strike, and the general improvement in the tone of industrial relations which followed as a result. The gratitude expressed to Mr Sullivan by working people themselves is a wonderful tribute to his handling of the Labour portfolio. “Mr Sullivan interpreted the National Party to working people, and convincingly presented the

Government’s case that it was out to promote their best interests.

“The Government is extremely fortunate that so many of its members are so well qualified to take over the serious responsibilities of Ministerial duties,” Mr Holland said. “Mr Gerard came into Parliament in 1943, and has been a Whip since the Government took office in 1949. His promotion to Cabinet rank is a recognition of his capacity and the fine service he has given over many years. Mr McAlpine’s New Tasks “Mr McAlpine, who will take over the portfolios of Labour and Mines from Mr Sullivan, brings to these new tasks special qualifications for posts which call for tact. understanding, and goodwill,” I said Mr Holland. “His direction of the Railways portfolio, in which he will continue, has been out-! standing and particularly successful from the point of view of industrial relations. “Mr Eyre has also done well in

i his Ministerial responsibilities, including those of Minister of Police, which he assumed just before Christmas. He has always had an interest in housing, with which his new duties are bound up. and I am very happy that he is available for additional responsibilities.” Mr Holland said that Mr Sullivan, who attended today’s caucus, would make himself available next week to assist those taking over his former responsibilities in familiarising themselves with their new duties. “It is always very hard to lose a senior colleague and constant contacts with a personal friend, as I have through Mr Sullivan’s retirement,” the Prime Minister said. “There are two other aspects—the large number of members of the Government party whose qualities have brought them into consideration for additional responsibilities, and ■ the fact that we have men available with particular qualities for particular posts. I have taken all these factors deeply into consideration in the reallocation of portfolios.” Mr Gerard’s Career Mr Gerard was born at Snowdon sheep station, in the Rakaia Gorge, in 1904. and was educated at Christ’s College. After leaving school, he worked as a shepherd and farm hand, and later took up his present 900-acre property at Mount Hutt. He has had an active association with Federated Farmers, and was president of the Mid-Canterbury executive and a member of the Dominion executive before the Farmers’ Union was developed into the present organisation. Mr Gerard was first elected to Parliament as member for Ashburton in 1943. when he beat Mr D Barnes, a former Labour member for Waitaki. by 635 votes. At the 1951 election, he gained a majority of 2867. and in the 1954 “lection. 2292. He was appointed Junior Government Whip in 1950 and became the Senior Whip in 1955. During hrs school days, Mr Gerard was a keen debater, and represented Christ’s College in debating contests against the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He is interested ,in deerstalking and racing. He is married, with five children. The Gerard family is well known in Canterbury, and has been associated with Showdon station for nearly 90 years. The Rt. Rev. G. V. Gerard is Mr Gerard’s brother. Another brother, Mr Stephen Gerard, lost his life while serving with the Navy in Singapore.