POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2543, 18 August 1915, Page 2

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

' MINISTERS" & DEPARTMENTS MINOR CHANGES An announcement of minor changes in the allotment of Departments to Ministers was made by the Prime Minister last night. Ho stated that Sir Francis Bell would retain control of the Department of Immigration. It had been intended that .this Department should be given to Mr. Hanan, but Mr. Hanan was anxious to give all his attention to the very important Department of Education. 'Ilie arrangement had been made satisfactorily to both Ministers. Mr. Herdman had handed over ' control of prisons to the new 'Minister of Justico (Dr. M'Nabj. Mr. Herdman would, however, retain control of the police force, and be would also take over the new task of helping returned soldiers., Mr. Herdman would bo concerned not only with men wlio 'had been sick or wounded, but with men who returned sound aud in good I-eulth, who required employment or who wished to go on the land. It would be tho Minister's duty to help them to got back to their ordinary civil occupations as soon as possible. THE NEW MINISTRY. Not ouco since tlio formation of the National Cabinet have all the Ministers been in AVellington at once. Yesterday all were in town savo Mr. Allen, and lie is expected from the south either to-day or to-morrow. In the meantime Ministers aro all busy, either in making themselves an fait with new Departments or iu preparing business for Parliament. _Mr. Massey said yesterday tliat he did not expect that the House would do much important business this week. The House would not meet nntil to-morrow evening, and as it was Local Bills day no Government business ol consequence would come on. Sir Joseph Ward is preparing the' Budget, but he declined to say yesterday, when ho proposed to bring it down. PRIVATE SECRETARIES. The following private secretaries have been appointed to the new Cabinet Ministers:—Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. 11. 0. Browne (who has been private secretary to Sir Joseph Ward for some time); the Hon. Dr. M'Nab, Mr. J. AV. Black (lato secretary .to Sir Fraucis Bell); the Hon.- G. AV. Russell Mr. F. D. Andrews; the Hon. A. M. Myers, Mr • C. A. 'Jeffrey (who lias been employed during tho war period oil the staff of His Excellency tlio Governor); the Hon. AY. D. S. Macdonald, Mr. lv. G. Chamberlain; tlie Hon. J. A. Hanan, Mr. F. M. Sherwood (of tho head offico of the Railway Department.