REALLOCATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 8

REALLOCATE

MINISTERS' DUTIES

RECENT RESIGNATIONS

Ministerial responsibilities held during the brief existence of the War Administration by four of the National Party representatives who have since resigned have been reallocated. .

The' reallocation was announced this afternoon by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), and is as follows:—

Minister in Charge of War Expenditure, the Hon. A. Hamilton. i Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes, the Hon.- J. G; Barclay. Minister of National Service, the Hon. A. McLagan.

Minister of Civil Defence, the Hon. D. Wilson.

In assuming the position of Minister in Charge of War Expenditure Mr. Hamilton is taking over the responsibility held by the Leader of the Op-r position (Mr. Holland) when he was a member of the War Administration. When the War Administration was formed Mr. Hamilton was appointed Associate Minister of Supply. Mr. Barclay is Minister of Agriculture in the Domestic Cabinet, and as Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes will be carrying out work which is bound up with that portfolio. The same comment applies to the appointment of Mr. McLagan as Minister of National Service., He was appointed to the War Administration as Minister of Industrial Man-power. Mr. Wilson, who takes over civil defence, was formerly Associate. Minister of National Service before the formation of the War Administration. He is also the Leader of the Legislative Council and Minister, of Broadcasting. Mr. Wilson said this afternoon that he would shortly be visiting the main centres for the purpose of discussing and promoting civil defence matters with the various E.P.S. authorities. He would be accompanied by the Director of National Service, Mr. J. S. Hunter, and he would also have with him the regional commissioner for each of the districts he would be visiting. Mr. Barclay said he proposed to continue the policy of the production councils and to obtain maximum assistance in regard to them. He would be visiting the various councils at the earliest possible opportunity. In addition, said Mr. Barclay, he anticipated geting help from all members of Parliament representing country districts.