POSTS ALLOTTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 2

POSTS ALLOTTED

WAR MINISTRY INNER CABINET OF SIX EXECUTIVE CONTROL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The following new War Administration Ministry was announced by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, last night:— Prime Minister and chairman of the War Cabinet. —The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. Minister in Charge of War Expenditure and deputy chairman of the War Cabinet. —Mr. S. G. Holland. Minister of Defence. —The Hon. F. Jones. Minister of the Armed Forces and War Co-ordination.—The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister of Supply and Munitions.— The Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who is also deputy Prime Minister. Associate Minister of Supply and Munitions—The Hon. Adam Hamilton, Minister of Transport.—The Hon. R. Semple. Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes.—Mr. W. J. Poison. Minister in Charge of the Maori War Effort—The Hon. P. K. Paikea Minister of National Service—Mr. W. J. Broadfoot. Minister of Industrial Man-Fower.— Mr. A. McLagan Minister of Civil Defence.—Mr. W. A. Bodkin. . Minister of Health. —The Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. Administration Functions Mr. Fraser said the War Administration of 13 members would be charged with responsibility for all matters connected with the war or New Zealand’s war effort. A War Cabinet of six of the 13 members of the War Administration would act as the executive body of the War Administration- and be responsible for making all decisions in relation to war matters, except those dealt with by the War Admin'is*tration as a whole. The Government Cabinet, said Mr. Fraser, would continue to function in respect of all matters of policy and administration not connected with the war. The War Cabinet will consist of Messrs. Fraser, Sullivan, Jones, Coates, Hamilton and Nash, who will resume his position in the War Cabinet when he returns to the Dominion, and Mr. Holland. In a statement on the War Administration, Mr. Fraser said: “The need for maximum unity in the war effort at this critical and threatening hour is obvious to everyone.” After stressing the necessity for unity, he said the War Administration had been established for the purpose of still further unifying the country in its war work. He believed the best arrangements possible in the circumstances had been made. There appeared to be some criticism by persons who believed they were fexpected to criticise.’ The people of New Zealand knew, however, that a National Government was not possible and that any attempt to force the formation of such would result in disunity rather than unity. There was ho hesitation in the attitude of the Returned Services’ Association and, although the association’s proposals had not been embodied, the principle and purpose of its representations had been the basis of all negotiations. Defining the duties of the Ministers of the War*Administration, Mr. Fraser said that Mr. Holland would exercise general control and supervision of all expenditure recorded in the war expenses account. I War Co-ordination. Work Mr. Coates would be Minister of War Co-ordination, including that of the armed forces, and would be in charge of co-ordination of the war and defence policy of New Zealand and her Allies in New Zealand and the south Pacific. He had been authorised to discuss and negotiate with persons in authority, both in and outside the south Pacific, on all matters affecting the war or defence policy and defence administration. The Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes, Mr. Poison, would be directly responsible to the War Administration for the preparation, 5n co-operation with the Minister of Agriculture, of plans for ensuring the adequate production of food' supplies and other primary products. The Minister of National Service, Mr. Broadfoot, would be responsible for the formation of a policy involving the utilisation of man-power as between the armed forces and industry and also for the maintenance of the ballot register, armed forces appeal boards, and the extent to which women-power might be availed of, including the administration of the W.W.S.A. The Associate Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Hamilton, would share Mr. Sullivan’s responsibilities and functions. Civil Defence Duties The Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Bodkin, would be responsible for all phases of civil defence, including the E.P.S., emergency shelters and evacuation if directed by the Army,-denial of resources to the enemy, and other similar duties. The Minister of Industrial ManPower, Mr. McLagan, would have complete jurisdiction over man-power resources outside the armed forces, and be responsible for securing' the most effective utilisation of man-power for the maintenance of production arid essential services. On the question of extension of life of Parliament, Mr. Fraser justified the agreement arrived at for an extension for the period of the war and a term not exceeding 12 months thereafter on the grounds of necessity for stability and concentration on the country’s war effort. The position would be fully safeguarded by the fact that ample onportunity would be given for a full discussion of the situation at any time by a question being raised in the House. If at any time the present arrangement failed to work, an appeal to the country would be inevitable. No self-respecting Ministers would cling tc office when they felt they were out of sympathy with the people. The new Ministers from the Opposition and Mr. McLagan were sWorri in by the Governor-General yesterday afternoon.