A NEW MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20649, 22 August 1930, Page 12

A NEW MINISTER.

THE HON. ROBERT MASTERS. CABINET VACANCY FILLED. ACTING LEADER OF COUNCIL. [TtY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. At a meeting of tho Executive Council yesterday, over which tho GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, presided, the Hon. Robert Masters was sworn in as a member of the Executive Council without portfolio. Mr. Masters will fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sir Joseph Ward and in the absence of Sir Thomas Sidev in England will act as Leader of the Legislative Council. For many years Mr. Masters has been one of the best-known business men in 'J aranaki. He settled in 1896 at Stratford, and joined his father, Mr. Jonas Masters, in storekceping. He was born at Hrunnertori, West Coast, in 1879. He became president of the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association and of the Progress League. On the Taranaki Education Board he was a member for 12 years, and chairman for four years. In commercial matters, he became managing director of the wholesale company of Masters, Limited, New Plymouth, Taranakii Stores, Limited, and the Taranaki Publishing Company, Limited, besides holding directorships in several other companies. Mr. Masters entered the House of Representatives in 1919, as member for Stratford, defeating Mr. J. B. Hine at the election. He again defeated Mr. Hine in 1922, but in the elections of 1925 he had to give place to Mr. E. Walter. He did not again appear in Parliament until 1930, when bo was called by the last Ward Government to the Legislative Council, with tho position of Deputy-Leader.