MINISTERIAL POSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 12

MINISTERIAL POSTS

TEMPORARY ALLOCATION

MR. WEBB AND MR. MASON

t PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Wednesday

Arrangements for the administration of the portfolios held by the Hon. R. Semple during his absence in Australia were announced by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Eraser, at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting this evening.

The Minister of Mines and the act-ing-Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, is to take charge of the Public Works Department, and the Attorney-General and .Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. 11. Mason, will act as Minister of Transport.

In an interview Mr. Eraser said that the early return to New Zealand of the Prime Minister, the P>t. Hon. M. J. Savage, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, would lessen the work of Ministers to a very great extent. .Much as they regretted the reasons for Mr. Sample's temporary absence in Australia, they did not anticipate any difficulty in having the work carried out efficiently. Mr. Semple is to leave Wellington for Sydney by the Wanganella tomorrow night on his recuperative trip to Australia and to investigate later several matters concerning the departments under his control.

Air. Eraser spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr. Sample's services to the country in relation to public works and transport. Mr. Semple, he said, had carried a heavy burden and no doubt his condition was duo to the energy with which he had applied himself to his multifarious and responsible tasks. In expressing to Mr. Semple good wishes for a rapid recovery, Mr. Eraser made him a presentation from his colleagues in tho Ministry.