NEW BELGIAN CABINET

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1945, Page 5

NEW BELGIAN CABINET

WELLINGTON, February 13. In the list of Belgian portfolios cabled yesterday, it was indicated that the portfolio of Colonies was held by M. Lalmand (Communist). Th P Consul General for Belgium, who received the full cabinet list from the Belgian news agency in London, states M. Lalmand is in charge of the Ministry of Food, while M. de Bruyn (Catholic), is the Minister for the Colonies. The Belgian Consul-General has received the following particulars of the new Belgian Prime Minister from the Belgian Press Agency in London. Premier Van Acker was little known before the war, but to those associated with him during the German occupation and since it’s liberation he has revealed himself as a, newcomer of leadership calibre. Born in Bruges, which he represents in the Chamber as &' Socialist, he is a self-made man. At first, a docker he later entered the bookselling trade, where he became well informed on a great variety, of problems. During the occupation he was most active in the resistance movement. He conducted negotiations between the various resistance groups, and established contacts between employers, and workers which ended in an agreement on social measures, to be taken after the liberation.