MR SEMPLE'S POSTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 146, 8 July 1937, Page 6

MR SEMPLE'S POSTS

-Preas Association. :

Temporary Re-allocation of Portfolios MR. WEBB TAKES OVER WORKS

(By Telefirraph

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Arrangements for the administration of the portfolios held by tho Hon. R. Semple during the latter's absence in Australia were announced by ihe aeting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, at.the cohclusion of a Cabinet meetiug this evening. The Minister of Mines and actingMinister of Labour, the Hon. I*. C. Webb, is to t'ake charge of the Public Works Department and the AtforneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, will act as Minister of Transport. in an interview, Mr Fraser said that the early roturn to New Zealand of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M, J. Savage, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, would lessen the work of the Ministers to a very great extent. Much as they regretted the reasons for Mr Semple's temporary absence in Austrialia, they did not anticipate any difficulty in having the work earried out efficiently., Mr Semple is to leave Wellington for Sydney by the Wanganella tQmorrow night on his recuperative trip to Australia and to investigate later several matters concerning the departments under his control. Mr Fraser spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr Semple's service to the country in relation to Public Works and transport. Mr Semple, he said, had earried a heavy burden ahd no doubt his condition was due to the energy with which he had applied himself to his multifarious and responsible tasks. In expressing to Mr Semple good wishes for a rapid recovery, Mr Fraser presented him with a small token of esteem from his colleagues in the Ministry. Mr Semple feelingly replied.