CHANGES IN PORTFOLIOS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 14

CHANGES IN PORTFOLIOS

Mr Gerard For Agriculture? (From Our Oum Reporter? WELLINGTON, April 26. Mr R. G. Gerard, who holds the portfolio of Lands and Forests, may also become Minister of Agriculture, as a result of the death of Mr W. H. Gillespie. This should not prove too onerous a task, as, with the removal of the overseas marketing responsibilities of the portfolio, agriculture has become rather a “rump.” Mr B. E. Taiboys, at present Parliamentary Undersecretary for Industries and Commerce, is also favoured in some Government circles to become Minister of Agriculture.

There has already been a certain amount of bitterness

among the producer boards at the separation of agriculture from its overseas marketing section. One way to overcome this • would be to make Mr Taiboys Minister, and give him the secondary task of handling the producer boards in their dealings with Industries and Commerce and the Ministry of Overseas Trade. Mr Talboys has been trained in this job over the last three months.

It is now believed unlikely that Mr D. C. Seath will be spared for a while from his present task as Under-Secretary for Finance. Initial work on the Budget,, which has been in progress since the Government came into power, is now at a crucial point. A division of the portfolios held by Mr T. P. Shand has been suggested. At present, Mr Shand has the portfolios of Labour. Mines, and Immigration, and is also in charge of tourist and health resorts, and of publicity and information.

Backbenchers who are being considered for agriculture—if the status quo is to be maintained—include: Mr D. J. Carter (Raglan), Mr D. N. McKay (Marsden), Mr W A. Sheat (Egmont) and Mr G. A. Walsh (Tauranga).

Early Bird The Waitara Fire Brigade was on call last week to burn down an old grandstand in the Waitara camp reserve at 7 a.m. The brigade arrived at the appointed time, to find the job had already been done The grandstand was a smouldering ruin. Nobody seemed to know who beat the brigade, and nobody seemed to be worrying.