THE NEW MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 119, 6 February 1918, Page 5

THE NEW MINISTER

Mil. D. H. GETHRIE. ■ The resignation of tho Hon. A.. L. Herdinan as a member of the Executive Council was gazetted yesterday. There has nover been any doubt as to who is to bo tho now Minister to take the vacant seat in the Cabinet. Every member of the lloform Party ngrees that Mr. Guthrie lias earned promotion for liis long and very successful and valuable service as Chief Whip of tho party. In all tho time that the Reform Party was in power tho party never lost a division, which means that remarkably good work was done by the Whips in keeping close touch with tho rank and file of the party. It may bo taken for granted that when Mr. Massev goes to England Mr. Gutlirit) will take the portfolio of Lands, but until then he will take only the Discharged . Soldiers' Information , Department, which has olaimed most of Mr. Ilerrlman's attention in tho . past year. This Department will frynv until, when the period of demobilisation comes it will be one of tho most important of all the Departments: of the State. It will bo Mr. Guthrie's duty to prenaro and to organise for the time when the soldiers will be returning in their battalions. It is understood that Mr. Hnnnn is to take over the Poliee Department, find that tho Attornev-Generalship will go to Sir Francis Bell.