MISS HOWARD APPOINTED TO CABINET

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1947, Page 7

MISS HOWARD APPOINTED TO CABINET

-Press Association • . ■«.- • i

. v .-V - New Zealand's First Woman Minister

By Teiegrayn—

WELLINGTON, May 13. The first woman to be appointed a Cabinet Minister in New Zealand,. will be Miss Mabel Howard, - M.P. for Sydenham, who was selected for this appointment at a caueus of members of the Parliamentary Labour Party today. After surviving an exhaustive ballot her name was submitted to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, for reeommendat.on to the Gov-ernor-General for appointment as a Minister of the Crown. Mr. R. McKeen, M.P. for Island Bay, who has been chairman of' the eommittees since 1939, was selected as Government nominee for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. C. L. Carr, M.P. for Timaru, is to be nominated for the office of Chairman of Committees. Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P. for Mount Albert, was selected as senior Government whip and Mr. R. M. Macfarlane, M.P. for Christchurch Central, as junior Government whip. The selections of Mr. McKeen and Mr. Richards were unanimous.. The other selections were made by > ballot. The. leadership of the Legislative Council is to be filled at a later date. ' No indication was given of the .portfolios to be allotted to Miss Howard. This and any other allocations that may be necessary, will be announced later.

' ' The Labour Party, in sele.cting Miss Howard for recommendation for appointment as- a .minister, has made history for , she will be the. first woman Cabinet . Minister in New Zeaiand," skid the : Prime Minister ■' » in ahnouncing Miss' Howard 's selection'at the cone'lusiori of today 's prdceedings ,of the caucus. "The Labour Party had' the honour of having the first woman Member 'in- ihe- House 'of Representatives in the late Mrs. E. R. McCombs and' now has the further.. distinction-' of . having selected the first woman Minister. « I am certain the appointment will be popular throughout New'Zealand. Miss Howard, by her long' experienee in tHe trade union movement and in docal body affairs, is well equipped for ministerial office. In all these activities she was conspicuoiisly successful and showed great ability and capacity, Mr. -Fraser said. After Miss Howard 's selection he had congratulated her on behalf of members of caucus and also extended congratulations to Messrs McKeen,. .Garr, Richards and Macfarlane. He had referred particularly to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Richards as senior Government whip during the years he, had held that office. The Prime Minister stated that a report on stabilisation had been submitted to caucus. . This was still under discussion. The caucus wiJl be continued tomorrow.