SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20985, 23 September 1931, Page 11

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.

VOWS OF OFFICE TAKEN. SELECTION OF MEMBERS. FINAL CHOICE DELAYED. COMPETITION FOR LAST PLACE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPKCML REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A formal ceremony at Government House this afternoon, lasting less than an hour, marked the end of the Forbes Government and the creation of the Forbes-Coatcs Coalition Ministry, which has now been entrusted with the task of dealing with the exceptional economic position of the Dominion. Mr. Forbes to-day placed his resignation, carrying with it the resignation of his Government, in the hands of the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and asked for power to form a new Government, for which he had made adequate arrangements. The ceremony was arranged for the late afternoon, and although no official announcement of the Cabinet personnel had been made up to that time, the names of the new Ministers were well known by those who had kept in close touch with the lobby developments of the morning. Oaths of Allegiance. The appearance of many silk-hatted and morning-flocked gentleman in the corridors confirmed the rumours of the Reform Leader's final choice of his Cabinet colleagues and showed the preparedness of the other members to meet His Excellency for taking the oath of secrecy and allegiance neeessai\y before the assumption of Ministerial office. The old Ministers as well as the new ones took the new of office, first as members of the Executive Council, and then as Ministers of the Crown, involving a declaration of loyalty to the King. After the swearing-in ceremony, members of the new Ministry were entertained by His Excellency, who then delivered a short talk upon the responsibilities of office and wished them success in the great task they will face immediately upon taking charge of the country's finances. The greatest secrecy was maintained until this morning as to the final choice of the Cabinet personnel, chief interest centring upon the competition for the final place between Mr. R. A. Wright and Ml'. J. A. Young, both of whom had served well in the previous Reform Ministry, and whose chances, apart from geographical considerations, were regarded as equal. Strangely enough, the members themselves were in the dark as to the final decision of the party chief, and it was not until Mr. Young was ultimately sent, for at noon that the intentions of Mr. Coatcs were fully disclosed. . Most Suitable Team. Within the limitations of the present Parliament, the new team is regarded as the most suitable one available for the task it has to perform and general congratulations were showered upon the new Ministers after the decision became known to-day. It is significant that with producers' problems well to the fore at present, there are five farmers in the new Cabinet, supported by two lawyers, two merchants and one dentist, while one of the lawyers and the dentist arc both _ engaged in farming at present. This, if is considered, should ensure a thorough appreciation of farmers' affairs and allow close application to their problems. In fact, the only criticism so far advanced aljput the new Government is that city interests seem to have little representation. Jti is believed the Independents made certain overtures for representation with one seat in the Cabinet. but according to the original arrangement, the Coalition was one purely between the Reform and United Parties, and as the men available were considered to be able to handle the job, these overtures produced no result. Unemployment Programme. No definite announcement has yet been made about the new policy. A change in administration of unemployment is foreshadowed by the appointment of Mr. Coates to the chairmanship of the Unemployment Board, a position hitherto held by the Minister of Labour. It is believed public works, development and settlement will be among the chief features of the programme now being designed for submission to the board, a programme which is calculated to be spread over a period of years with (he ultimate purpose of absorbing (he unemployed in place of spasmodic bui;sts of relief work with disastrous inroads into the limited funds available. Mr. Forbes expects the programme to bp ready by the time the House meets again, but Mr. Coates was cautious in the Chamber this evening when lie interjected that at least sufficient should lie ready to enable the House to go ahead on it. A busy time will be spent by Ministers in settling into their new quarters and preparing their legislation and it is anticipated that the days will have lengthened considerably with the approach of summer before members are permitted to pack up and consider their work for 1931 finished.