A RE-ORGANISATION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1928, Page 1

A RE-ORGANISATION

IN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPA IUI’M ENT.

By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright, WELLINGTON, May 1. An important reorganisation of the Department of External Affairs has been decided upon by the Government, resulting in the transfer of the portfolio to the Prime -Minister (lit. Hon. J. G. Coates), and the appointment of Mr C. A. Berendsen. Imperial Affairs Officer, as Permanent Secretary. Details of tlie change were announced by the Prime Minister to-day in Connection with the retirement of Mr.l. D. Gray from the position of Secretary of the Department of External Affairs. Mr Coates said that Mr S. J. Smith, who had held the position of Chief Clerk to the Department for a number of years, would now become Secretary of tbc Cook Islands Department, while Mr C. A. Berendsen, in addition to bis duties as Imperial Affairs Officer of the Prime Minister’s Department, would assume the duties of Secretary of the Department of External Affairs. Mr Smith would continue to act ill his capacity of Chief Clerk of the Department of External Affairs in conjunction with his new duties as Secretary of the C'ook Islands Department. There would lie of course no alteration in the Ministerial administration of the Cook Islands Department, which had been under the charge of the Hon. Sir Maui Poniare for many years. The effect of the re-organisation is that tlie portfolio of External Affairs is now transferred from the Postmas-ter-General (Hon. AY. Nosworthy) to the Prime Minister, and that tho administration of Samoa will come directly under the control of the latter. Air Nosworthy retains the portfolio of Post-master-General, Telegraphs and Immigration, and the position of Minister in Charge of Legislative, Tourist and Health Resorts, and the Government Life, State, Fire and Public Service Superannuation Depart me nts.