POLITICAL ARENA

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 6

POLITICAL ARENA

CABINET RESHUFFLE NO NEW MINISTERS MR FRASER RELINQUISHES EDUCATION [Pek United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 30. The resignation of himself and his colleagues who had formed a temporary Ministry following Mr Savage’s death was tendered to the GovernorGeneral (Viscount Galway) at Government House to-day by Mr Eraser, who submitted proposals for a new Government. His Excellency accepted the resignations mid approved Mr Fraser’s list of portfolios. Later. Mr Fraser and his colleagues were sworn in. Because of illness, Mr Lee Martin was unable to attend at Government House, but he been confirmed as a member of the Executive Council and in the office of Minister of Agriculture till he has sufficiently recovered to be sworn in. The now Government, with the distribution of " portfolios and departments. is as follows:

Hon. P. Fraser, Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Broadcasting, Legislative, Electoral, Audit, High Commissioner’s, and Police Departments.

Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs, Minister of Stamp Duties, Minister of Marketing, and Minister in Charge of the Land and income Tax, Public Service, Superannuation, and Census and Statistics Departments. Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, Minister of Supply, Minister of Railways, and Minister in Charge of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department. Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Education, Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, and Minister in Charge of tho Prisons Department, the Public Trust Office, and tho Patents Office. Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Health, Minister in Charge of the Mental Hospitals Department, and Minister in Charge of Housing and State Advances. Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works,. Minister in Charge of Roads and Public Buildings, Minister of Transport, Minister of Marine, and Minister in Charge of the inspection of machinery. Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Social Security, and Minister in Charge of the Registrar-General’s Office. Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, Minister of Mines, PostmasterGeneral, Minister of Telegraphs, and Minister in Charge of the' Printing and Stationery Department. Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence and Minister in Charge of War Pensions. . Hon. W. Lee Martin,. Minister of Agriculture and Minister in Charge of the Friendly Societies and National Provident Fund Departments.. Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, Commissioner of State Forests, Minister of External Affairs, Native Minister, Minister for tlje , Cook Islands, Minister in Charge of the Native Trust and Valuation Departments, Land for Settlements, Scenery Preservation, and Tourist and Health Resorts. Hon. D. Wilson, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Man-power, and Minister in Charge of the Government Life Insurance and State Fire Insurance Departments. Mr Wilson is also Leader of the Legislative Council.

The allocation of Ministerial offices and departments is conditioned by the fact that, as previously announced by the Prime Minister, consideration of the appointment of one or two new Ministers will be given at the next party caucus meeting, and p limited reallocation will thus again be necessary. The death of Mr Savage left a vacancy in the Cabinet, and. the question of an additional Minister will also be considered.

The portfolio of External Affairs has been allocated to Mr Langstone, who for some months past has been carrying out tho detail work associated with it. The Ministry of External Affairs, as at present constituted, deals only with the administration of the mandated territory of Western Samoa. All questions concerning foreign or inter-r national affairs and relations with the British Commonwealth of Nations will continue, as at present, to be dealt with by thp Prime Minister. For some time past the Government has had under consideration the problem of post-war restoration, particularly tho rehabilitation of returned soldiers, upon which a comprehensive inquiry and report have already been made. A sub-committee of the Cabinet was set up, and when the necessary regulations are framed a Minister will be deputed to direct and administer the permanent organisation. Mr Jones will now be able to devote his entire attention to defence and war pensions IN SUMMARY. The Prime Minister drops the portfolios of Education, Health, Marine, Mental Hospitals Department. Mr Nash drops Social Security. Mr Sullivan’s portfolios are unchanged. Mr Mason takes over Education. Mr Armstrong assumes the portfolio of Health and charge of Mental Hospitals. Mr Semple’s new portfolio is Marine. Mr Parry takes over Social Security from Mr Nash. Mr Webb takes over the PostmasterGeneralship from Mr Jones, who retains only Defence and War Pensions. Mr Lee Martin’s portfolios are unchanged. Mr Langstone’s new tasks are Native and External Affairs, while Mr Wilson takes Immigration and Man Power (a war creation). STATEMENT BY PREMIER SORRY TO GIVE UP EDUCATION PORTFOLIO In a statement to the Press to-night, Mr Fraser said the portfolios of Education, Health, and Marine, as well as tho charge of mental hospitals, had been placed in very capable hands. It was with great reluctance that he was compelled by pressure of work to relinquish them, but in view of tho additional duties occurring through tho war situation, it was quite impossible for him

to carry out efficiently the Ministerial administration of such important departments.

Mr Fraser said he wished to express his appreciation of the many requests he had received from education boards and other educational governing authorities, from school committees, parents’ associations, teachers’ organisations, and many individual teachers and others interested in education that he should remain Minister of Education. In normal circumstances he would most certainly have endeavoured to continue his direct personal association with the many activities of the Education Department,

The same remark, Mr Fraser said, applied to the position of Minister of Health. Ho thanked the hospital boards which had urged his retention of the portfolio for their expressions of goodwill. He could assure all who were connected in any capacity with the important work of education and health, mental hospitals and marine, that the Ministers appointed to control those departments were just as keenly interested as he was, and that as good, or even better, results would be obtained under their direction. Mr Fraser said he would like to take the opportunity of thanking all the public bodies, departmental officers, and private individuals who had extended their help and co-operation to him in his Ministerial work during the last four years and a-half. He regretted that he had not been able to follow the example of Mr Savage and assume the portfolio of Native Affairs, the Cook and External Affairs, but it was quite impossible in the present circumstances. Mr Langstone would bring both experience and a sympathetic insight to the administration of these positions. LEE PARTY BRANCH FORMED AT NAPIER The second branch of the Democratic Labour Party was formed in Napier at a largely-attended meeting of supporters of Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., who presided. The former president of the local branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr D. B. M‘Rae, was ..elected president of the new party. Mr Barnard addressed the gathering on the objects and policy of the new organisation, after which the following resolution was unanimously carried:—■ “ That this meeting of friends and supporters of Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, hereby establishes the Napier branch of the Democratic Labour Party now in the course of formation. The Democratic Labour Party stands for the principle of democratic control throughout the Labour movement, both political and industrial, and for the carrying out of the policy of the Labour Party as officially stated to the electors during the election campaign of 1938, and especially for the giving of full effect to the monetary plank of the Labour Party’s platform, as expressed in the party’s manifesto of 1935 and 1938. “ The Democratic Labour Party is strenuously opposed to dictatorship and aggression, both at homo and abroad, and will actively co-operate in all genuine efforts to secure the operation of democratic and Christian principles, the abolition of the causes of international jealousy, war, and the creation of conditions which will ensure just and permanent peace and. security.” . : NOT CONTESTING AUCKLAND WEST MR LEE SAYS " CABINET WANTS RABBITS" WELLINGTON, April 30. The Democratic Labour Party does not propose to enter a candidate for the Auckland West by-election, according to Mr J. A. Lee, M.P. “ Before we contest a seat we shall have adequate prepartion, organisation, and funds,” he said. Mr Lee added that the party aimed at getting the basis of a North Island organisation together before the session opened. “ Temporarily we must leave the officially selected ‘ Yes ’ man alone,” he said. “ Obviously, powerfully-central-ised control is accompanied by deterioration in the quality of candidates. The Cabinet wants rabbits.” THE PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT DECLARATION BY NEW PARTY WELLINGTON, April 30. Declaring that the movement was not satisfied with the,record of either the Government or of the National Party, because of their Socialistic trends, the Dominion president of the People’s Movement, Mr E. R. Toop (Wellington), in an address to supporters in the ToWn Hall to-night, announced that if there was no alteration in the personnel, constitution, and policy of the existing parties, the movement would not hesitate to place its whole organisation and candidates- in the political arena to oppose them. Admittance to the Town Hall was by ticket, and there was an attendance of approximately 300.