COALITION MINISTRY

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3353, 24 September 1931, Page 5

COALITION MINISTRY

TO MEET EMERGENCIES.

PORTFOLIOS ALLOTTED.

The new Cabinet was announced by the Prime Minitser, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in the House of Representatives last Tuesday night. It is as follows: Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes: Prime Minister, Minister of Railways, Minister of External Affairs and Minister in ch|£]fce of Scientific and Industrial Ros&>.rch, Public Trust, Electoral and High Departments. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: Minister of Public Works, Minister of Transport and Minister in charge of Unemployment and Roads and Public Buildings. Hon. E. A. Ransom: Minister of Lands, Commissioner of State Forests and Minister in charge of Land for Settlement, Scenery Preservation, Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Valuation Departments. Hon. W. Downie Stewart: Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs, Minister of Stamp Duties, Attorney-Gen-eral, and Minister in charge of State Advances and Land and Income Tax Departments. Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata: Minister of Native Affairs, Minister for the Cook Islands, Minister in charge of Native Trust, Government Life Insurance, State Fire Insurance,' Legislative Public Service Superannuation, Friendly Societies and National Provident Fund Departments and member of the Executive Council representing the Native Race. Hon. J. A. Young: Minister of Health, Minister of Immigration and Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals and Printing and Stationery Departments. Hon. R. Masters: Minister of Education and Minister of Industries and Commerce. Hon. D. Jones: Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines. Hon J. G. Cobbe: Minister of Defence, Minister of Justice, Minister of Marine and Minister in charge of Pensions, Police, Prisons and Inspection of Machinery Departments. Hon. A. Hamilton: Minister of Labour, Minister of Internal Affairs, Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs, and Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts, Publicity,, Registrar-General's Statistician's, Audit, Museum, and Advertising Departments. The House has adjourned until Friday, October 2, when an Imprest Bill will be passed. The Government's proposals will be announced on the following Tuesday. LATER.

A readjustment of the Hon. R. Masters' executive duties is announced on account of the recent amalgamation of Industries and Commerce with several minor portfolios. Mr Masters and not the Hon. A. Hamilton will take charge of Tourists and Health Resorts, Publicity and Statistician's Office.

MR HOLLAND'S VIEWS.

REFORM PARTY'S DOMINATION.

(By Telegraph. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

In a statement to-day the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, said he objected strongly to the very important portfolios of Education and Legislative Council. An outstanding of the rearrangement was the way in which most of the major portfolios had been handed over to the Reform Party. It would appear that for all practical purpose the Reform Party held a dominating position in the new Cabinet.

FACING THE JOB IN BUSINESSLIKE MANNER.

WELLINGTON, this day. The first meeting of the Coalition Cabinet was held yesterday, lasting two and a-half hours. Mr Forbes, at the conclusion, said he was most gratified with the businesslike manner with which the Cabinet had faced its job. The Statement to be presented to the House on October 6th might be regarded as in the nature of a supplementary Budget, of which frequent mention has been made, and although it would take the form of a Financial Statement containing the full policy of Government, it would really be an amplification of the Budget. From -that date onward the Government would push forward its policy. .He was hopeful the new Cabinet would be able to carry out an effective plan for the permanent rehabilitation of the Dominion.

A WIDE SELECTION.

MINISTERS' DISTRICTS.

Although there was an opinion that the times did not call for weight being given to geographical considerations in the selection of the new Ministry, the ten members are drawn in fair proportion from both the North and South Islandjs. While it is believed that the main concern of the party leaders was to choose men who would be most suited to the heavy tasks that will confront the Coalition Government, some attention was given to territorial representation, with the result that the new Ministers may be said to represent in the fullest way the whole of the Dominion. - From Mr Coates in the north to Mr Hamilton in the far south, the new Ministers are, drawn from all parts of the country. Mr Coates's electorate is Kaipara, which embraces the Dargaville district. Coming further south, Mr Young represents Hamilton, so that he and the leader off?xhe Reform Party will satisfy any claims that Auckland province may consider it has for seats in the Cabinet. Sir Apirana Ngata comes from the East Coast, and no fewer than three Ministers are drawn from the southern portion of the North Island. MiRansom represents Dannevirke, and Mr Cobbe, Oroua, his home being at Feilding, while Mr Masters comes from Stratford, although, as pointed out, he has not been sent to Parliament by election. ■ Two members of the Ministry, Mr Forbes and Mr Jones, have their interests in Canterbury, Mr Forbes s electorate being Hurunui and Mr Jones's Mid-Canterbury. Mr Stew-

art's representation of Dunedin West in the House assures the Otago centre of retaining a Minister, for until the formation of the Coalition Mr Taverner, whose electorate is Dunedin North, had a seat in Cabinet. Furthest south of all is the district represented by Mr Hamilton, who comes from Awarua, represented for many years by Sir Joseph Ward, who was defeated in 1922 by Mr J. R. Hamilton, a brother of the new Minister.