THE CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23870, 22 January 1941, Page 8

THE CABINET

PORTFOLIO CHANGES NEW MINISTERS' POSTS CO-ORDINATION OF WORK [by TKLEGJUIMT-rUKSS ASSOCIATION] \VELL INGTO y, Tuesdav A number of Cabinet changes were 1 announced by the Prime Minister, the I Jit. Hon. P. Eraser, to-day. Among the j most important is that the Hon. It. ! Scruple will take over Railways from ] the Hon. J). G. Sullivan, and the Hon. | H. T. Armstrong will be the new Minister of Public Works. The Hon. A. 11. Xordineyer will take | the Health portfolio from Mr. ArmI strong, and the J lon. J. Li. Barclay will ibe given Agriculture and will relieve : the Hon. W. Nash of Marketing. Mr. Scruple will also be Minister of j Marine, and the Hon. D. Wilson will ! take charge of Broadcasting, which has been relinquished by Mr. 1' raser. Mr. Sullivan will take over Scientific land industrial Research, and the Hon. hi. G. it. Mason will he Minister in charge of Prisons. Mr. Nordmeycr is taking control of Mental Hospitals, i .Friendly Societies and the National ! Pi •evident Fund. ! The two new .Ministers, Mr. Nord- ' mover and Mr. Barclay, also Mr. P. K. Paikea, who will he a member of the ! Executive Council representing the native race, were sworn in by the Governor-General, \ iseount Gal way, j this morning. Reasons for Changes "The readjustments announced today." said the Prime Minister, '"were rendered necessary because of the admission to the Cabinet of three new Ministers, the great extra burden oi work thrown upon certain Ministers owing to their participation in the direction of the country's war effort, and the desirability of co-ordinating certain Government administrative ' activities, particularly those relating to transport, during the war period. "The load of duties carried by the (Minister of Finance, the Hon. W T | Nash, is general knowledge, and the | relinquishing of some of it became a | necessity. 1 would like to make if j clear that Mr. Nash has enjoyed and still retains the complete confidence I of his Cabinet colleagues and the Government Party in his administration ol | the Marketing Department, as in the i discharge ot all his other responsibilities. The same comment applies with equal force to the other Cabinet j changes. Concentrated Effort I "The responsibility of a Minister ol ! Munitions and Supply is so great that lit requires the maximum time and effort, to be devoted to it. For that reason ionly Mr. Sullivan was asked to relinquish the portfolio of Itailways, and ho agreed to do so in order that his whole energies could be concentrated on munitions production and supply, and the co-related activities of industries and commerce and scientific and industrial research. "In assuming the portfolios of Bailways and Marine, together with that of Transport. which he formerly handled, Air. Somple will have a great ■opportunity of co-ordinating the transport services of the Dominion. He will also continue to devote his great energy and driving force to the war effort of the country as Minister of National Service. "I regret that at a time when he was making very substantial and satisfactory progress with the inauguration of the national general practitioner medical scheme, Mr. Armstrong should he called upon to take up the po: '.folio of Public Works, but in the tram.er of portfolios this was inevitable. The New Ministers "The combination of Agriculture and Marketing is a very heavy initial responsibility for a new Cabinet Minister," the Prime Minister continued, j "hut Mr, Barclay has long shown that lie possesses the qualifications for carrying out the work successfully. Mr jNordinever is eminently fitted for the work allocated to him. "The Hon. D. Wilson will remain as associate-Minister of National Service j and has also taken over Broadcasting I from myself. The duties of the War j Cabinet and our war effort generally ! have occupied so much of my time that jit was essential that Broadcasting I should be taken over by another | Minister. I "f regret very much the resignations of both the Hon. W. 1 -co Martin and | the Hon. D. G. McMillan." said Mr. | Fraser. "My colleagues and i are glad i to welcome Mr. Paikea as a representative of the native race." MINISTERS AND POSTS CO.MPI.KTH NEW LIST [iiV TELEGRAPH PItKSS ASSOCIATION j WELL!XG TON", Tuesday The members of the Cabinet, as rearranged, together with their complete I portfolios and designations, are as | follows: — ! '!'! Ie Tit. Ifo-i. P. Eraser. -Prime 'Minister, | Minister in Charge of Police. Legislative, Electoral. Audit and Lliyrli Commissioner's Departments | The Hon. AY. Xasli. —Minister of Finance. Minister of Customs. Minister of St a nip Duties. Minister in Charge of Land and Income Tax, Public Service Superannuation. and Census ami Statistics Departments. The Hon. I). (I. .Sullivan.—Minister of Industries and Commerce, Minister of Supply and Munitions, Minister in Clui'tje of Scientific and industrial Hesearch Department The Hon. FI. 0. K. Mason.—-Minister of Education, Attorney-General, Mini; er of Justice Minister in Charge of P.isons, Public Trust and Patents Offices. The lion. If. T. Armstrong.—Minister of Public Works. Minister in Charge of Roads and Public Buildings. Minister in Charge of Housing and State Advances. The Hon. K. Semple.—Minister of Railways, Minister of Transport. Minister of National Service. Minister of Marine, and Minister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinerv. The Hon. W. E. Parry.—Minister of Interna! Affairs, Minister of Social Security, Ministerjn Charge of the RegistrarGeneral's Office. The Hon. P. 0. Webb.—Minister of Labour. Minister of Mines. Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs. Minister in Charge of the Printing anil Stationery Department. The Hon. E. Jones.—Minister of Defence. Minister in Charge of War Pensions. The Hon. F. Laugstone.— Minister of Lands, Commissioner of State Forests, Minister of Kxternal Affairs, Native Minister, Miiiist >r for the Cook Islands. Minister in Charge of the Native Trust and Valuation Departments. Land for Settlements, Scenery Preservation, and Tourist ain i Health Resorts. Tha Hon. D. Wilson. ■ Minister of Immigration. Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, Government Life Insurance and State Eire Insurance Departments, associateMinister of National Service. The Hon. ,T. Barclay.—-Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Marketing. The Hon. A. 11. Nordmeyer.— Minister of Health, Minister in Charge of the Mental Hospitals, Friendly Societies and National Provident Fund Departments. The Hon. P. K. Paikea. Member of the Executive Council representing the native race. War Cabinet.—The Prime Minister, Mr. Nasn and Mr. Jones (Government), the I; t. Hi.n. ,T. G. C'ontes and the Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition). War Council. Prime Minister, Minister of Finance Minister of Defence, Minister of Supply and Munitions, Minister of National Service. Mr. W. Mullioiland (president. New Zealand Farmers' Union), Mr. R. Eddy (president New Zealand Workers' Union), Mr. ('. Davis (Employers' Federation), Mr. A. Me Lagan (president Federati in of "Labour), Hon. W. Perry (president Returned Soldiers' Association), Mr. Tirikatene (returned soldier representing native race), Sir Andrew Russell (returned soldier appointed by Government). Mr. fjowry. MP. (returned soldier appointed by Government), Mr. H. At more (independent member ot Parliament). The Minister of Labour and 'Minister of Agriculture attend Council meetings, according to tha subjects "ander'-feDmoderation.