FEDERAL CABINET.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18524, 2 January 1932, Page 9

FEDERAL CABINET.

THE PERSONNEL. COUNTRY PARTY’S ATTITUDE. SHORT LIFE PREDICTED. United Press Asst,. —-sice. Tel. Copyright. MELBOURNE, Jan. 1. The new Prime Minister of Australia, Mr J. A. Lyons, is not able officially to announce his Ministry, owing to the absence of replies to invitations telegraphed to prospective members of the Cabinet. However, it has been ascertained that the portfolios have been allotted as follows: Prime Minister and Treasurer: Mr J. A. Lyons. Atlorney-Gcneral, External Affairs, and deputy-Leader of the Government: Mr ,T. G. Latham. Defence and Leader of the Government in the Senate: Sir George Pearce. Trade and Customs: Mr H. S. Gullett. Postmaster-General and probably Works and Railways: Mr J. E. Fenton. Markets: Mr C. A. S. Hawker. Home Affairs: Mr A. Parkhill. Health: Mr C. W. C. Marr. Vice-President of the Executive Council and probably Minister In Charge of Development: Mr A. J. McLachlan. Honorary Ministers: Messrs S. M. Bruce, W. Massey Greene, 'J. Francis, and J. A. Perkins. All the Ministers are Nationalists or members of the United Australian Party. A Queensland member of the House of Representatives, Mr J. A. J. Hunter (Country Party), of Maranoa, attacks Mr Lyons for his method in forming the Government. lie contrasts his actions with (hose of Messrs Bruce and MacDonald, both of whom consulted party leaders in similar circumstances. Mr Hunter declares that Mr Lyons is “ drunk with success ” and could see none outside bis Nationalist following. SYDNEY, Jan. 1. Dr. Earle Page returned from Melbourne to Sydney to-day. He discussed the critical position which had arisen over the new Cabinet. Dr. Page expressed the opinion that the Lyons Government would have only a short lifo. The absence of the Country Party from the Ministry was due to the fact that the chambers of manufactures bad declared the Country Parly “ black ” so far as the Customs portfolio was concerned. There was no lack of willingness on the part of Hie Country Party to lend its whole weight to Hie Government in dealing with economic and financial problems. The last of tho doubtful election seats lias been decided, namely the Lang seat. Victory went to the United Australia Party’s candidate, Mr A. Dein, whose majority was 3393 over Mr D. Mulcahy, Lang Plan candidate. The state of parties in tho House of Representatives now is: Government. United Australia Party .... 39 United Country Party 1(5 Independents 2 57 Opposition. Federal Labour Party .... 1-i Lang Plan Labour 1

It. is understood that tho Trades Hall may question Hie result in the Cook constituency, where Mr Jock Garden, the Communist, was defeated bv a narrow margin.