NEW MINISTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 June 1924, Page 7

NEW MINISTER.

FARMERS’ ADVOCATE AND DEBATER. (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) YVELLINGTON, June 25. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, member for Wairarapa, who, as previously indicated in ; these columns, would take over the- Hon. D. iT. Guthrie’s portfolios, was sworn in this afternoon at an executive- council meeting at Government House. The new Minister will administer the Lands Department, Discharged Soldiers Settlement, Repatriation, and Scenery Preservation. His predecessor will continue as a member of the executive- without portfolio. Mr. McLeod entered the House at the 1919 general election when. Sir Walter Buchanan having retired from the representation S)f Wairarapa , he contested the- seat in the Reform interest, beating a former Liberal holder of that position, Mr. Hornsby, by 500 votes. A practical farmer, lie lias been a- strenuous advocate- for the producers and was prominent in pushing the Dairy Control Bill through Parliament. He retains a good Scotch accent, the most noticeable in the House, and is a fairly frequent contributor to the debates. A trip to Queensland has provided the new Minister with a large quantity of critical matter about Labour Governments, and he usually contrives on occasions when controversy runs high to provoke tiis former near neighbour on the Labour Benches to interruption and reply. Mr. McLeod has actively interested himself in soldier settlement, and will now have the administration of that branch. The appointment wiU somewhat improve the Rebating .strength of the Ministerialists. An interesting feature is that the .Premier, in making the appointment, did not wait to submit it to the party caucus, which meets on Thurs-. day night.