MINISTER RESIGNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 11

MINISTER RESIGNS

FEDERAL CABINET SALARIES CUT QUESTION (Received September 23, 11.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 23 Tho Canberra correspondent, of th® Daily Telegraph reports that/ the Minister of Markets, Mr. 0. A. Hawker, resigned from the Lyons Cabinet early this morning.

For some time past Mr. Hawker has had differences with his colleagues on tho exchange question. He voted against the Government on an amendment to the Financial Emergency Bill. Tho Canberra correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald says Mr. Hawker announced that, ho had resigned owing to a disagreement on tho question of the further reduction of allowances to Ministers. He declared that, there had been no disagreement on any matter relating to policy. Mr. Hawker voted for an amendment moved by Mr. J. M. Gabb (Labour) to reduco the salaries of senators and members of the House of Representatives to £6OO a year, which was defeated by 55 votes to 8.

As Mr. Hawker handled all the communications from Ottawa his resignation is a severe blow to the Cabinet at the present juncture. The Prime Minister has expressed his regret at Mr. Hawker's decision and has intimated that the vacancy will be filled next week.

Mr. C. A. Hawker was first elected to the House of. Representatives for Wakefield,- South Australia, in 1929. He belongs to a leading South Australian pastoral family, and is a graduate of Cambridge University. Ho had a distinguished record in the war, and for three years was president of the Liberal Federation of South Australia.