WAR CABINET OF 13

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 65, Issue 5492, 1 July 1942, Page 5

WAR CABINET OF 13

NEW ADMINISTRATION OPPOSITION MEMBERS MR BROADFOOT INCLUDED The members of the new War Administration of 13 agreed upon following negotiations between the Government and the Opposition are as follows: EXISTING WAR CABINET The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. The Hon. A. Hamilton. MEMBERS OF CABINET The Hon. P. K. Paikea. The Hon. R. Semple. The Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. NEW MEMBERS OPPOSITION MEMBERS Mr S. G. Holland, M.P. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. • Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. Mr W. J. Polson, M.P.. GOVERNMENT. APPOINTEE Mr A. McLagan. The new Ministers will be sworn in at Government House this afternoon. Mr McLagan, who is president of the Federation of Labour, is to have a seat in the Legislative Council. With the members of the new administration already of Cabinet rank he completes the Government representation of seven members, the other six being members of the Opposition. Although each of the appointees will hold ministerial rank as members of the War Administration, the new members will not carry portfolio titles as in the case of the domestic Cabinet, but they will be given specific duties for the purpose of implementing the decisions of the War Administration as a whole. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, who is to be deputychairman of the War Administration, will co-operate with the Prime Minister in giving attention to war expenditure. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, with his practical experience of warfare, will have co-ordinating authority in cooperation with other Ministers and officials for implementing the War Administration decisions on every phase of New Zealand’s military activity. The Hon. A. Hamilton will be associated with the Hon. D. G. Sullivan in the responsible task now carried out by the present Minister in connection with war supplies. - OTHER NEW MEMBERS Civil defence is likely to be the special interest of Mr Bodkin, while Mr Polson is obviously marked out for duties in connection with primary production and food supply. Mr Broadfoot is expected to be concerned with manpower questions. The present portfolios held by the Government Ministers indicate in general what their principal responsibilities will be. Mr Semple is already administering transport of all kinds, and Mr Nordmeyer as Minister of Health has already taken an important role in relation to sick and wounded servicemen. The Prime Minister has already mentioned his intention to have a smaller group, comprising practically an inside Cabinet, which can meet more frequently than the complete War Administration. It is now becoming plain that this inner group will comprise: Mr Fraser, Mr Holland, M, Jones, Mr Sullivan, Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton, all of whom, except Mr Holland, have had long experience in the work of the War Cabinet.