RECUPERATING TRIP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 10

RECUPERATING TRIP

THE HON. R. SEMPLE PORTFOLIOS REA PLOTTED CABINET PRESENTATION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Arrangements for the administration of the portfolios held by the Hon. It. Semple during the latter’s absence in Australia were announced by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting this evening. The Minister of Mines and actingMinister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, is to take charge of the Public Works Department, and the AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. It. Mason, will act as Minister of Transport.

In an interview. Mr. Fraser said that the early return to New /.calami of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. IVI. ,1. Savage, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W, Nash, and the Minister oi Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, would lessen the work of the Ministers to a very great extent.

Much as they regretted the reasons for Mr. Semple’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.

Mr. Fraser spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr. Semple’s service 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 due 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. Fraser presented him with a small token of esteem from his colleagues in the Ministry. Mr. Semple feelingly replied.