SETTLING DOWN

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 10

SETTLING DOWN

NEW MINISTERS BUSY

ACCOMMODATION ARRANGE MENTS

No time is being lost by the new appointees to t.'.c 1 Ministry 'in getting clown to business, and arrangements for their accommodation are being carried out with dispatch. The Minister of External Affairs (Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell) has shifted his quarters from the upstairs corner of the old wing to the suite set aside for the Leader of the Legislative Council at the rear of the new building. His old suite has been taken over by the Minister of Agriculture Hon. O. J. Hawken). The Minister of Justice and Defence (Hon. F. J. Rolleston) is to take possession of the suite hitherto occupied by the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, and will retain Dlr. G. F. Dixon as his private secretary. The Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) has not yet found permanent quarters, and may use for a time the rooms lie tenanted as Chairman of Committees. His secretary will be Dlr. J. T. Waugh, who was previously attached to the Hon. Sir Dfaui Pomare’s secretariat staff. Dlr. A. J. Conway will remain with Sir Maui Pomare, who will continue to administer the Cook and other islands. The new Attorney-Gen-eral (Hon. W. Downie Stewart) is not affected by the staff changes. So far arrangements have not been finalised for the appointment of a secretary to the Hon. O. J. Hawken.

The pending promotion of Mr. F. D. Thomson, chief private secretary to the Prime Minister, to the head of the new Prime Minister’s Department necessitates an additional appointment to the Prime Dlinister’s secretarial staff. This has not vet been announced. In conjunction with their definite portfolios. Ministers of the Crown have under their charge such Departments as State Fire, Government Life Insurance, Public Service Superannuation, etc., and an announcement regarding the’ allocation of these Departments mav be expected within the course of a few davs.

As a result of the new appointments 'he Ministry is now constituted as follows .

Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Prime Minister, Dlinister of Public Works. Railwavs, and Native Affairs. Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Minister of External Affairs. Hon. W. Downie Stewart. Attorney. General, Dlinister of Customs, and Industries and Commerce. Hon. IV. Nosworthv, Dlinister of Finance, Stamp Duties, and Immigration. . .

Hdn. Sir Tames Parr. Dlinister of •Education, Telegraphs, and Postm.ister- . . , M-fiol'i. G. J. Anderson, Dlinister of Dimes, Labour, and Marine. Hon. A. D. McLeod, Dlinister of Lands. Hon. R. F. Bollard, Dlinister of Internal Affairs. Hon. O. J. Hawken. Dlinister of Agriculture and Commissioner of State Forests.

T-Ton. F. I. Rolleston, Dlinister of Justice and Defence. Hon. J. A. Young. Dlinister of Health. Sir Heaton Rhodes .continues to act ns a member of the Executive Council, ns do also Hon. Sir Mani Pomare and Hon. D. 11. Guthrie.