THE UNSEATED MINISTER

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 2

THE UNSEATED MINISTER

MR JONES RESIGNS REFORM TO NOMINATE SUCCESSOR SPECIAL SESSION IN MARCH POSSIBLE (Pm Ukited Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. The Prime Minister (Right Hon.. G. [W. Forbes) announced to-day that the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture’and Mines (Hon. D. Jones) had been received. “ Nothing has been done yet regarding his successor,” said Mr Forbes. “That, will be gone into when I see the Minister of Public Works (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) when I get to Wellington. . “ Whatever happens,” he continued, “ I say definitely that there will be no increase in tho size of the Cabinet. We wish to avoid as? much extra expenditure as possible. I shall discuss the political position with Mr .Coates and find out who is his nominee. The Reform members of the Coalition Cabinet were appointed before on the recommendation of Mr Coates, and, seeing that a Reformer has resigned, Mr Coates will again make a recommendation.”

The Prime Minister arrived in Christchurch this afternoon, and went north this evening by the ferry steamer. Like every other Canterbury farmer., Mr Forbes was worried about the continued dry' spell, and expressed fears for the crops in Canterbury if the drought continued.

“The Canterbury farmers badly want rain,” he said, “ and my. farm is like tho rest. If we could get rain we would be rid of a good deal of anxiety, for if the drought breaks in reasonable time there should bo quick growth, and things will come away nicely. This dry spell is very awkward, coming at a time Idee the present.” Mr Forbes said that the question of a special session would bo gone into by the Cabinet this week. He said that ,the date probably would be in March-. . for if a session had to he held it would have to he held before tho end of the financial year.