THE CABINET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2509, 9 July 1915, Page 6

THE CABINET

RE-ARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS

MB MASSE? TAKES FINANCE

TO RELIEVE DEFENCE MINISTER. An important rearrangement of portfolios to allow the Hon. J. Allen, now Minister of Defence, Finance, and Education, freedom to devote all his attention to Defence, was decided upon at a meeting of tho Government Party last night. The Prime Minister made a statement on the subject after the meeting.

"There was a very long discussion.-at the meeting," he said,, "as to the best means of improving the condition of affairs at the camp, and of giving the Defence Minister an opportunity of devoting the whole of his time to tho administration of that Department. It is well known-that Sir Francis Bell has been administering the Education Department for some, time, and Mr. Rhodes has also been assisting the Defence Minister for the last month. I will now take over tho greater part of the administration of the Finance Department, allowing Mr. Allen to deliver the Financial Statement, which is almost ready for delivery."ALARM IN AUSTRALIA QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. . The alarini§t reference to the seriousness of the war crisis made by an Australian Minister was the subject of a question in the House yesterday. ." Mr. R-. A. Wright 'asked the Minister of Defence whether ho had noticed the following cable message published in tho newspapersTho Hon. H. C. Hoylo (Hon. Minister assisting the Treasurer), speaking at a recruiting meeting, and explaining that lie spoke as a Minister having information not available to the general public, said: "I tell you tho position is very serious. Do not imagine we aro out of tho wood; we are not. Britain is not really so strong as wo have all imagined. "Wo must realise that,the Empire must put its shoulder to tho wheel; nothing must be left undono to prepare for the great blow which Germany is preparing to strike." Mr. Wright asked the Minister whether he had any information to corroborate this. Mr. Allen: No, Sir. I have none. '