NEW PORTFOLIO

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 10

NEW PORTFOLIO

Control of Marketing Department HON. W. NASH’S TASKS With the passing of the Primary Products Marketing Bill by the Legislative Council yesterday and the subsequent granting of Vice-regal assent to the measure, probably to-day, the way is now clear for the appointment of the new Minister of Marketing and for the establishment of the department which he will control. It is regarded as certain that the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, who handled the Bill in the House of Representatives, will be Minister of Marketing and. a definite announcement of his new position will probably be made after the next meeting of Cabinet. Although the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, has said that no immediate action would be taken to increase the numerical strength of the Cabinet, it is known that some consideration is being given in official circles to tiie desirability of lightening the administrative burden carried by Mr. Nash. The taking over of the Reserve Bank by the Government naturally increased Mr. Nash’s duties as Minister of Finance and the moulding of a new department, together witli the endeavour to negotiate marketing agreements overseas, will make him far and away the busiest member of the Cabinet.

The suggestion has been made that Mr. Nash might be relieved of the portfolio of Customs. There are grounds for believing that this is receiving consideration in official circles and if action is taken in that direction it is quite possible that the Hou. D. G. Sullivan will take the portfolio in addition to that of Industries and Commerce. Indeed, under the Government’s policy, it appears that both departments will be working in co-operation to a considerable extent.