FEDERAL CABINET

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1939, Page 5

FEDERAL CABINET

PERSONNEL OF SIXTEEN

(Australian Press Association).

V MELBOURNE, April 25. The new Federal Cabinet has been announced by Mr R. G. Menzies as follows: / , .. . ...... ’

Prime Minister and Treasurer — Hon; R. G. Menzies;

Attorney-General and Mimster 0 f Industry—Rt. Hon., W. M. Hughes; Minister of Supply and Development—Hon. R. G. Casey; Minister of Defence—Colonel G. A, Street;'; .: . ‘

Minister of External Affairs—Sir Heifry'Gullet; •

Minister of Commerce—Senator I. McLeay; Minister of the Interior —Senator R. Toll; Postmaster-General and Minister of Repatriation—Hon R. Harrison;

Minister of Trade and Customs — Hon. W. Lawson; Minister of Health and Social Services—Sir Frederick Stewart;

Vice-President of the Executive Council. Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister assisting the Minister of Defence—Hon. J. Fairburn; Tlie Assistant Ministers are: Messrs Perkins and Spender, assisting the Treasurer ; Senator Mcßride, assisting the Minister of Commerce; Senator Collett and Mr Holt, assisting the Minister of Supply. - . 1 It is the largest Federal Cabinet in history, and also one of the youngest.

N.S.W. COUNTRY PARTY. SUPPORT SIR E. PAGE. SIDNEY, April 25. At a meeting, the Central Council of the United Country Party of New South Wales decided to support the policy adopted by the Australian. Pai£* liamentary Country Party under tuo leadership of Sir Earle Page. Members of the Council strongly criticised some aspects of Sir Earle Page’s leadership, especially his, personal attack on Mr i)lerizies. They also expressed definite disapproval of Mr Meiysies as a leader. MR MENZIES EXPLAINS. MELBOURNE, April 25. The new Federal Cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday at Canberra. Explaining his reason for the Increase in the Ministerial personnel to sixteen by the creation of a new portfolio, that of Supply and Development, Mr Menzies, Prime Minister, said: “I am anxious to cope adequaely with the enormous task of .organising for the defence of Australia, which, hitherto, has been far too heavy for one Minister, involving problems of economic preparedness, and industrial organisation. The Minister of Defence, Mr Street, will thus be relieved of a large amount of routine work,* as wellas the supply side of his activities. ’*