HUGHES-COOK COALITION

Evening Star, Issue 16352, 19 February 1917, Page 1

HUGHES-COOK COALITION

NEW FEDERAL CABINET.

SIX LABOR AND FIVE LIBERAL

MINISTERS.

SIR W. IRVINE'S MISSION'

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, Australian ancl N.Z. Cable Association.

■ MELBOURNE, February 18. After further lengthy conferences with Mr Cook and his own Ministerial colleagues, Mr Hughes announced that the following Ministry, consisting of six Liberals and five Hughesites, to be known as the Commonwealth War Ministry, had been formed :

Mr Hughes, Prime Minister and Attor-ney-General.

Mr Joseph Cook (Lib.), Minister of the Navy.

Sir John Forrest (Lib.), Commonwealth Treasurer.

Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence. Senator Millen (Lib.), Vice-President of the Executive Council.

Mr W. A. Watt (Lib.), Minister of Works and Railways. Mr. P. Glynn, Minister of Home Affairs and Territories. Mr J. A. Jensen, Minister of Customs. Mr W. Webster, Postmaster-.General. Mr L. E. Groom (Lib.) and Senator E. J. Russell, honorary Ministers. In the course of a statement to Pressmen Mr Hughes claimed that the Ministry formed a strong team such as would give effect to the desire of the people to prosecute the war with the utmost determination to the end.

Mr Hughes also stated that he had. asked Sir W. livine (Lib.) to place his services at the disposal of the Government in relation to a vital and urgent matter arising out of the war, and Sir W. Trvine had consented. Mr Hughes refused to explain, but the deduction is that Sir W. Irvine is to accompany Mr Hughes to the Imperial Conference.