EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 May 1928, Page 6

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

RLVARRANGEMENT:, OF DEPARTMENT. LUY TELEURAPJbf—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May 1. An important reorganisation of the Department of External Affairs has been decided upon by the Government, resulting in the transfer of the portfolio' to the Prime Minister and the appointment of Mr. (J. A. Berendsen, Imperial Affairs officer, as permanent secretary. Details of the change were announced by the Prime Minister to-day. In connection with the retirement of Mr. J. i>. Gray from the position of Secretary to the Department of External Affairs, Mr. S. J. Smith, who had held the position of chief clerk to the department for a number of yeans, would now become Secretary of the Cook Islands Department, said Mr. Coates. Mr. C. A. Berendsen, in addition to his duties as Imperial Affairs officer of.the Prime Minister’s Department, would assume the duties of "Secretary of the Department of External Affairs.

Mr. Smith would continue to act in ~ his capacity as chief clerk of the Department of External ‘Affairs in conjunction with his new duties. There would be, of course, no alteration in the Ministerial administration of the Cook Islands Department, which had been under the charge or the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare for many years. The effect of the reorganisation is that the portfolio of External Affairs is now transferred from the Post-master-General, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, to the Prime Minister, and that the administration of Samoa will come directly under the control of the latter. Mr. Nosworthy retains the portfolios of Postmaster-General, Telegraphs and Immigration, and the position of Minister in charge of the legislative, tourist and health resorts, Government life, State fire and public service superannuation departments.