New Cabinet Members Meet Departmental Heads

Chronicle (Levin), 22 December 1949, Page 7

New Cabinet Members Meet Departmental Heads

WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. The Prime Minister, Mr Holland, to- , day ent.ertainecl Departmental heads in the Cabinet. room, when he -tbok" the opv portunity of introducing his Ministerial colleagues to the permanent heads of , the Departments they will administer. Mr Holland ' extended the Govern ment's cordial good wishes' to .'-those present. He said the Governihent appreciated the responsibilities of office- and Kiiew it couid (iepend. at, ali tnues \u. the loyaL, efficient and enthusiastic supv port of all branches of the ciyil service. iie said there vvould be imporfant chan ges in administration designed to 'in crease eiiiciency considerably "and £o relieve Ministers of a great deal of de tail which rightly belonged to the ad .uinistrative braneh. He said. Depart- ' nental officers vvould alway's receiyt the full support of the new Governuient ; n carrying out its policy. _ The Deputy-Priine Minister, Mr iipiyoake, said the new Governmept attach cd importanee to effeetive co-operation between .the elected legislators and tfm ipp.ointed admmistrators. The new Go . .'ernment. looked forward to vyorking in losest harmony with the various De >artments of State. Mr Holland proposed a toast to "the welfare of New Zealand and the happi less of its people," saying it must al vavs be the object of legislators and administrators td make the happmess . eiiare and t'reedom of the people thei irst consideration. Mr B. C. Ashwin, Seeretary to th Treasury, said Departmental rheads -wel omed the assurance of goodwill ahd -aid that as always, Departmental otti-,',ei-s would loyally carry out and ad•linister the new Government's policies, He proposed the toast of Mr Holland -ind colleagues," which was honoured •vith enthusiasm. Mr Holland later entertained thi Minister . of External Alfairs, M Doidge, wishing him well for the t'ortli, :oming Ceylon conference which M Doidge will attend.