AUSTRALIAN CABINET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1937, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN CABINET

CHANGES LIKELY ,

EFFECT OF ELECTION

SOME POSSIBLE CHOICES

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, .October 28.

One of the first problems the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) will have to tackle next week will be a Cabinet reshuffle. Substantial changes will be made in the Cabinet before the first sitting of the new Parliament. Several men who have not held Cabinet rank before may be included in the Prime Minister's new team.

Any forecast is obviously affected by the inconclusive state of the count, particularly for the Senate. It will be some days before the Senate position can be gauged with any certainty. On present figures, Ministers who may be missing.from the new Parliament, in addition to Sir Archdale Parkhill, are the Minister of External Affairs (Senator Sir George Pearce), the PostmasterGeneral (Senator McLachlan), and an assistant Minister (Senator Brennan).

Men who are being discussed for inclusion in the Cabinet should this happen are Mr. Hawker, formerly Minister of Commerce, a U.A.P. man from South Australia;' Mr. Lawson, U.A.P., New South Wales; Mr. Street, U.A.P., Victoria; Senator Leckie, U.A.P., Victoria; Mr. McEwen, Country Party, Victoria; Senator Marwick, U.C.P., Western Australia; and Senator Hardy, U.C.P., New South Wales. Except Mr. Hawker, those chosen would probably be given assistant Ministerships. Mr. McEwen is one of the leading young men of the Country Party. He has been marked out for advancement for some time, and this would provide an opportunity. Messrs. Lawson and Street are highly regarded in the U.A.P. Mr. Hawker is likely to be offered full Ministerial rank. He had an excellent record before he resigned his portfolio, and his appointment would be received favourably by the Country Party. It is suggested that he may be made Minister of Commerce. The leader of the Country Party and Deputy Prime Minister (Dr. Page) now holds that portfolio. He would probably replace Senator McLachlan as PostmasterGeneral. THE DEFENCE PORTFOLIO. The Assistant Minister of Commerce (Mr. Thorby) is persistently mentioned for the defence portfolio. He has an excellent record, both as an assistant Minister and as Minister of Commerce while Dr. Page was acting for Mr. Lyons. Another candidate'for the defence portfolio would be Mr. T.. .W. White, now Minister of Customs. Apart from Defence, one of the principal portfolios which may change hands is the Interior, which has been administered by Mr. T. Paterson, one of the Country Party team. Mr. Paterson's health has been causing serious concern, and it is believed that he^ may find the Interior Department more than he can manage. The administration of the Interior Department has always been onerous, and in the last few years has increased considerably in responsibility and work.

There is also likely to be a change in the Speakership. Mr. Bell has not been ih good health for some time, and is not likely to seek another term. The most favoured for the position is Sir Charles Marr. He has been a Minister,. and is temperamentally suited to the position. The Country Party may submit Mr. Prowse as an opponent. Mr. Prowse is now Chairman of Committees. His candidature would be supported by the Labour Party. If such ah alliance was formed, the combined Labour-Country Party vote would defeat the U.A.P. nominee.