TWO NEW MINISTERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 12

TWO NEW MINISTERS

HONS. A. J. MURDOCH AND S. G. SMITH

PORTFOLIOS READJUSTED

The personnel of the Cabinet selected by the Hon. G. W Forbes was submitted to the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) this morning, Mr. Forbes, accompanied by the Permanent Head of the Prime Minister's Department (Mr. F. D. Thomson), waitiris on His Excellency at Government House at 11 o clock. lne members of the Ministry, with the exception of Sir Joseph V ard, who is under health treatment at Rotorua, were sworn in by His Excellency at 2.15 p.m. , Mr A J Murdoch, Chief Government Whip, has been elevated to Cabinet rank and assigned the portfolios of Agriculture and Mines. Mr. S. G. Smith, Chairman of Committees, becomes Minister of Labour. . , All the members of the Ward Cabinet have been re-appointed to the Ministry, but a considerable change has been made m the distribution of portfolios. Mr. Forbes obviously has attempted as far as possible to co-ordinate portfolios of allied interest. The most notable alterations affect the Hons. W. A. Veitcn and W B Taverner. Mr. Veitch relinquishes all the portfolios he previously held, and'takes Railways from Mr. Taverner, who receives Transport in exchange. Mr. Taverner is also appointed Minister of Public Works vice the Hon. E. A. Ransom, who is now Minister of Lands. * Mr. Forbes takes Customs from the Hon. J. B Donald, and Mr. Donald assumes the Postmaster-Generalship, formerly held' by Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Forbes also, as Prime Minister, has control of the Treasury and External Affairs Following a formal meeting of the Executive Council this afternoon, at which the oaths of office were administered the first ordinary meeting of the new : Executive was held, the GovernorGeneral presiding. All members were present except Sir Joseph Ward, who has been confirmed as a member, of the Executive Council without portfolio.