TO-DAY'S HAPPENINGS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 123, 28 May 1925, Page 6

TO-DAY'S HAPPENINGS

BELL MINISTRY RESIGNS

MR. COATES SENT FOR

■NEW CABINET AKRAXGEMENTS.

_ Between 10 ami 11 o'clock this morning, the Prime Minister (the Hon. Sir Francis Bell) waited on His Excellency at Government House, and tendered the resignation of the Government, which His Excellency was pleased to accept but requested -that all Ministers should continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices until their successors should be appointed. Subsequently His Excellency sent for Mr. Coates, and asked him if he could iorm a Ministry. Mr. Coates asked for time to consult his colleagues before tendering advice. In pursuance of His Excellency's request that Ministers should continue to exercise their duties until their successors are appointed, Sir Francis Bell remains in oiiice as Prime Minister until Mr Coates is ready to acquaint His Excellency of the personnel of his Cabinet and the new Ministry is appointed ' At 12.45 p.m., Sir Francis Bell summoned a meeting of Cabinet to inform Ministers of the interview which he had' had with His Excellency.

For the present, at "any rate, it is unlikely that any fresh Cabinet appointments will be made, and it was ascertained this morning to be likely that the present Ministers will be asked to continue in office for at least a few days, and, possibly, a few week's, it not bein^ considered urgent that any changes or •new appointments should be niacfe yet. From an authoritative Ministerial source it was learned that Mr.. Coates would later on divest himself of some of the heavy portfolios which he is at present carrying, but that it was improbable that Cabinet changes would be made, "Otherwise what would be said in the fa.cc of all the representations that have been mado on the subject of fusion?" From this it can be taken that the vacancy iv the Reform Cabinet caused by Mr. Massey's death will be allowed to remain open for a while. The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes (Minister of Defence and Commissioner of State Forests), who,' on the ground of ill-health, and acting on medical advice, is anxious to relin° quish Ministerial rank, has tendered his resignation along with other Ministers, but as to the immediate future he has left himself in the hands of Mr. Coates. He informed a "Post" representative to that effect this afternoon.

It is expected that Mr. Coates -will be sworn-in and the. new Ministry appointed either this afternoon or to-mor--row. • ■