THE NEW MINISTRY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 10

THE NEW MINISTRY

FEEQTJENT MEETINGS THE COMING SESSION Subsequent to thevswcaring-in of the jicw Cabinet yesterday afternoon, a Gazette Extraordinary was issued officially promulgating the resignation of the Ward Ministry and the appointment j of the new Administration. The Forbes Cabinet is losing no time in getting down to work. In accordance with his intimation immediately after being elected leader of the United Party that Cabinet would sit fairly continuously from now on until Parliament opens at the end of next month, the Prime Minister (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) summoned a meeting of his Ministry last night and again this morning. A large part of the business is understood to have consisted of Public Works and 'other departmental authorisations and routine work. Cabinet is sitting again this afternoon. The finalising of the Government's legislative programme will occupy a good deal of the time or Cabinet in the next four weeks, and the statement was made by Mr. Forbes last night that he expects the preparation of Bills will be well forward by the time Parliament meets, instructions have already been issued to Departments to have their annual reports \ ready for presentation early in the session. UNDERTAKING FROM THE HOUSE. One reason for the Prime Minister's insistence on a busy series of Cabinet meeth)/J to hasten the preparation of legislation for the session is doubtless his- realisation that a few weeks after Parliament opens he will be obliged to leave for England to represent tho Dominion at the Imperial Conference, which opens on 30th September. The legislative programme promises to be heavy, and the business is unlikely to be put through satisfactorily in less time than a working session of Parliament usnally occupies—throe or four months. In view of the balance of parties in the House, Mr. Forbes would be taking an obvious risk if.he left the House sitting, as Mr. Coates did in 1925, without ensuring the preservation of the status quo in his absence. Before relinquishing office, Sir Joseph Ward announced that a statement regarding the Imperial Conference would be submitted to the House at the beginning of the session, and it is assumed that this will seek an undertaking from the two opposition parties that the authority of the Government to occupy the Treasury benches will not be seriously challenged during the period of Mr. Forbes's mission abroad. Mr. Forbes would then leave the Hon. E. A. Ransom in charge of the House during the later stages of the session. It may ;be expected that the Government will endeavour to expedite its principal legislative measures so -that as much as /possible of the more important items on the programme may be disposed of before the Prime Minister leaves New Zealand. MEETING WITH DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. ?To enable departmental heads and other executives to become acquainted, with the Ministers to- whom they are responsible, an informal gathering attended by over seventy officers was held at Parliament House yesterday afternoon, at the behest 6f the Prime Minister. Mr. Forbes commented afterwards on the success of the gathering from every point of view. It is understood that the. Prime Minister took the opportunity of pointing out that while the immediate economic posi-' tion might not necessitate any measure of retrenchment in the 'Service, he wished heads of Departments to keep carefully in mind the interests of the general taxpayers. STAFF ARRANGEMENTS. Ministers and staffs have not yet settled down to the rearrangement of accommodation entailed by the shuffle of portfolios, but the adjustment should take only a few days. A slight redistribution of private secretaries was agreed to by Cabinet last night, secretaries being allotted as follows: — Hon. G. W; Forbes—Messrs. C. A. Jeffery and J. A; Mitchell. Hon. E. A. Ransom—Mr. A. W. Mulligan. Hon. W. A. Vciteh—Mr. T. R. Aicldn. Hon. W. B. Taverner—Messrs. N. J. Hutehings and W. J. Shanly. Hon. J. B. Donald—Mr. W. R. King. Hon. A. J. Stallworthy—Mr. J. T. Waugh, Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle—Messrs. E. N. G:. Poulton and A. J. Conway. Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata—Mr. H. B. H. Balneavis. Hon.J. G. Cobbe—Mr. F. G. Matthews. Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey—Mr. S. Y. Jones. Hon. S..G. Smith—Mr. 3?. M. Sherwood. Hon. A. J. Murdoch—Mr.,G. F. Dixon. Hon. H. Atmore—Mr. W.! I. Deavoll.