EXTRA WORK FOR MR FRASER

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 8

EXTRA WORK FOR MR FRASER

SEVERAL PORTFOLIOS RELINQUISHED EXPRESSIONS OF GOODWILL EXPRESSED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 30. In a statement to the Press tonight the Hon. P. Fraser said that the portfolios of Education, Health and Marine, as well as charge of mental hospitals, had been placed in very capable hands. It was with great reluctance that he was compelled by pressure of work to relinquish them but in view of the additional duties occurring through the war situation it was quite impossible for him to carry out efficiently the Ministerial administration of such important departments. He wished to express his appreciation for the very many requests he had received from education boards and other educational governing authorities, from school committees, parents’ associations, teachers’ organizations and many individual teachers and others in education that he should remain Minister of Education. In normal circumstances he would most certainly have endeavoured to continue his direct personal association with the many activities of the Education Department.

The same remark applied to the position of Minister of Health. He thanked the hospital boards which had urged his retention of the portfolio for their expressions of interested goodwill. He could assure all those who were connected in any capacity with the important work of education and health, mental hospitals and marine, that the Ministers appointed to control those departments were just as keenly interested as he was and that as good or even better results would be obtained under their direction.

Mr Fraser said he would like to take this opportunity of thanking ail public bodies, departmental officers and private individuals who had extended their help and co-operation to him in his Ministerial work during the last four years and a-half. He regretted that he had not been able to follow the example of the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage and assume the portfolios of Native Affairs, Cook Islands and External Affairs but it was quite impossible in the present circumstances. The Hon. F. Langstone brought both experience and sympathetic insight to the administration of these positions. MR A. E. DAVY’S NEW POSITION ORGANIZER FOR PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT Mr A. E. Davy, formerly organizer for the Reform, United and Democrat political parties, has been appointed an organizer for the People’s Movement, the new political party which has had its genesis in Wellington. Confirming the appointment when questioned by The Press, Christchurch, Mr E. R. Toop (president of the People’s Movement) said: “Mr Davy has been appointed outside organizer. That is all. He has been with us only very recently.” Mr Davy, who was an organizer for the Reform Party before he linked up with the United Party, first became prominent in 1930, when he was chairman of the executive of the United Party.