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Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 9

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IN CHARGE OF WORKS

BIG JOB FOR MR. E. G. THEODORE

(0.C.) SYDNEY, February 18. After eleven years in the political wilderness, Mr. E. G. Theodore, former Premier of Queensland for six years, and Federal Treasurer in the Scullin Labour Government from 1929 to 1931, has come back to public life. t Full Cabinet yesterday appointed him Director-General of an Allied Works Council in Australia. His powers will be as wide as those of the DirectorGeneral of Munitions and Aircraft Production (Mr. Essington Lewis), who is responsible onty to the Prime Minister.

His appointment is the first official disclosure that a major allied works programme is to be undertaken in Australia. The Works Council will control the flow of men and materials required for urgent defence works to be undertaken shortly as part of the general Allied plan for military cooperation with Australia. He will be assisted by the Works Director of the Interior Department (Mr. C. A. Hoy) and Mr. L. J. Swerdrup, representing Allied interests.

A move was made last year to find a post for Mr. Theodore in war work where his admitted organising ability and keen business brain could be used in the interests of the country, but under outside pressure the Menzies Government passed him over.

After leaving politics. Mr. Theodore devoted himself to business. He is chairman of directors of Consolidated Press, Ltd., and managing director of Emperor Gold Mining Company. Ltd., and Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines. He is said to be a very wealthy man, but has not lost his old political leanings.