TWO NEW MINISTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 May 1936, Page 7

TWO NEW MINISTERS

RE-SHUFFLE OF PORTFOLIOS HON. W. NASH’S VISIT ABROAD MR J. A. LEE AND REV. G. CARR MAY RECEIVE PROMOTION (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, This Day. Since the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Hon. M.'J. Savage, that it was intended to increase the size of Cabinet in order to relieve members of tlie present ministry, there lias been much speculation in. the lobbies regarding the course that will be followed. There is reason to believe that it is the intention of Mr Savage to increase the size of Cabinet by two, and that a general re-shuffle of portfolios will be .involved. Provision was made in the Primary Produce Marketing Bill'for the appointment of a Minister of Marketing. and it has already been stated authoritatively that the choice will fall on the present Minister of Finance, ■ the Hon. \V. Nash It is generally. agreed that the responsibilities attached to the new portfolio will be sufficient to keep Mr Nash fully occupied and that he will have to be relieved of the major duties he carried on at present, especially in view of his coining departure, and the handing over of the portfolio of Finance to anotlier member of.the Cabinet.

With tlie appointment of two additional ministers it will, be possible to make a satisfactory re-allocation, and tlie suggestion is that the .Minister of Education, tlie Hon. Fraser, who is deputy-leader of the Government,- will succeed Mr Nash. Colour is lent to the suggestion byvirtue of the fact-that Mr Nash and Mr Fraser hold somewhat similar-views on the financial policy. There has been a feeling in parliamentary circles for some time that- Air Fraser, as Mr Savage’s first lieutenant, lias not had, the responsibility that bis position should carry. There is general agreement that Mr Fraser’s outstanding qualifications would fit him fbr ’ tlie position of Minister of Finance. Another important point for consideration is that Mr Nash’s duties-as Minister of Marketing .will necessitate liis spending considerable time abroad, since the announcement was made some weeks ago that Mr Nash would visit England soon, as the major legislation in his charge was out of the way. It has beer. generally accepted that in ..the next year or so lie will have more or less a roving commission. ■ Not only will he have to place the new marketing Scheme on a sound footing, but tlie duty- will devolve on him of. arranging trade agreements' with Britain and other countries, in keeping with the Labour Government’s policy. It is obvious that Air Nash caiinot-act as ambassador for New Zealand and Minister of Finance as well, and the • opinion- generally expressed is that it is inevitable that lie should be relieved of bis financial duties. . . ±1 The announcement that'it is the intention of the Government to increase the size of Cabinet lias naturally given rise to much speculation in the- lobbies and the question as to which members of the Labour Party will receive preferment lias been keenly discussed. The choice of the tw.o new Ministers will bo mads by the Prime Alinister and although Air Savage has.stated that the time is not yet ripe for an announcement to be made, it is generally believed that the new members of the Cabinet are likely to be the member for 'Grey Lynil, Mr J. A. Lee, who is Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Alinister, ami the Rev. C. Carr, member for Timaru. and president of the New Zealand Labour, Party, . : . ... Air Lee, as a returned soldier, is marked down for the office of Alinister of Hefence, and there is no doubt that his appointment would be a popular oile both inside and outside of the party. It lias been a matter for comment that in a party which includes .such a large number ‘of returned men, room was not found for a representative in this important section of public opinion in the original Cabinet selection,-but it seems that the defect, if it.can.be so described, will shortly he remedied. It is known that- as Under Secretary to the Prime Alinister, Mr Lee lias already played an important" pari; in dealing with major defence problems and' his elevation to a full ministerial position lias been regarded as only being a Tnatter of time. If Air Fraser is to beeome Minister of Finance, it will be necessary for him to be relieved of at least one of his major portfolios, .and it is generally anticipated that the Rc£V. C. Can- will bo given the portfolio of Education. Since his entry into liament in 1928 the Rev. C. Carivhas taken a leading part on tlie educational side. He was a member of the select committee which was responsible- for what has come to he known as tli&Atmore Report. With the portfolio of Education would probably go several other minor ministerial'. posts. While it may not be necessary to, find excuses for the Rev. Carr’s preferment, there is one fact that stands him in good stead, the position he holds in “the Labour movement. At the Easter Conference of the party he was elected president, tlie highest honour which may be conferred on -a rank and- file member. Tlie Rev. Carr is als£' a good debater. ■> ;," _ The decision 1 of Air Savage to. increase the size of his Cabinet maj be taken as an .indication., that the-Gov-ernment is determined to accept full responsibility for the administration of its policy, completely avoiding the delegation of 'authority to hoards;. _ To make this effective in an administrative sense, not .(.only must; the Cabinet be enlarged,; but; the Parliamentary under-secretaryship; system is placed on a definite basis.). Therefore an amendment to the Civil List -Act is kc-ly to be one of this session’s measures. ’ - ;