THE MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 282, 25 August 1919, Page 4

THE MINISTRY

MR, RUSSELL RESIGNS TO-DAY, The Ron. G. AY. Russell, as announced in The Dominion on Friday, will resign tc,lay. "The delay in sending in my resignation," said Mr. Russell on Saturday, "has been caused by an important matter in connection with my Departments, which I have been most anxious to clear up before leaving office. In order to do go it was necessary to olv tain further reports, and tho urgency o't the matter wns only brought before me by the officers of the Department after Sir Joseph Ward had actually tendered his resignation, although tho fact at that time was unknown to myself. I am hoping to have the report in question by Monday morning. Whether it is received or not my resignation will bo forwarded to His Excellency at mi<k <lay on Monday. "So far as Internal Affairs, PuViic Health, and Mental Hospitals Departments are concerned, they are all in shipshape order and ready for the new Ministers to take possession. All necessary instructions for legislation of an urgent character havo been given, and there will be no difficulty in any Minister assuming, control of the Departments, even without previous knowledge as to their inpf"Tho last matter that had to be dealt with wa.i necessary legislation arising out of the epidemic, and as there are signs now which indicate that as spring advances there may be some mild recrudescence of tho epidemic of last year, instructions have been given as an urgent measure to draft, the epidemic clauses, which in my evidence before the Commission I recommended should he incoi porated in the law, and which the Commission supported in its report." ' MR. HANAN'S RESIGNATION. Tho Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, handed his resignation.to tho Governor-General on Saturday. Mr. Hanan had several important educational matters in hand, including a revision of the school syllabus. The amended syllabus has been printed and will await tlic approval of Mr. Hanan's successor. ALLOCATION OP PORTFOLIOS. The allocaiion of portfolios, as published in Tub Dominion - on Saturday, will hold in the meantime. In addition it has been decided that Mr. Masses will himself.take the Post ami Telegraph Department.' Public Health and a few minor Departments have not yet been definitely allocated. NEW APPOINTMENTS. It is not probable that any announcement about the appointment of new Ministers will be made till tho end of the week. Mr. Mussey will meet his parly on Wednesday, and no doubt this f|ueolion, along with others, will be mentioned at the meeting.