New Zealand Now Under A New Government

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 5

New Zealand Now Under A New Government

Prime Minister And Cabinet Take Oath And Accept Office

WELLINGTON, Last. Night (PA).—“The changeover has been of a most pleasant nature, and I shall not soon forget Mr. Fraser’s courtesies, and I hope he will take the same view of me as I take of him,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Holland, at his Press interview tonight, the first he has given from the Prime Ministerial suite of offices.

“We both recognise that we have been witnesses today to a scene which was part of our democratic system, where the people’s decision has been put, into operation without any heartburnings or misgivings, or bitterness,” said Mr. Holland.

The Prime Minister added that he would like to acknowledge the many courtesies he had received from Mr. Fraser in the last nine years. "It will be my constant aim to return something of what I have received from him during this period,” said the Prime Minister. Earlier in the day Mr. Fraser showed Mr. Holland over the Prime Minister’s suite of offices and Mr. Holland accompanied Mr. Fraser to the rooms which the Leader of the Opposition will occupy in future. The first act of the Cabinet of the new Government, when it met this afternoon, was to ask His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, to convey to His Majesty a message of loyalty. The message, which the Prime Minister, Mr. Holland, sent

to the Governor-General for transmission to the King was as follows: “On behalf of the Government, which has just formally assumed office in New Zealand, and of which I have the honour to be Prime Minister, I bdg respectfully to tender to Your Majesty most loyal greetings, to give an assurance of unswerving devotion to Your Majesty's Throne and person, and to affirm the determination of Your Majesty's Government In New Zealand to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the administration of the Dominion and the advancement of the welfare of Your Majesty’s subjects therein.” The first Cabinet meeting was held this afternoon, and it confirmed a number of matters already in train, as well as .taking routine decisions on other questions which required immediate attention. This was stated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Holland, at a Press conference tonight. He added that there was a full attendance of members. The three Ministers without portfolio, Mrs. Ross. Mr. Fortune and Mr. Marshall, and , the two Under-Secretaries, Mr. Sheaf and Mr. Smith, attended the meeting by invitation.