MINISTERIAL DUTIES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 246, 19 October 1942, Page 4

MINISTERIAL DUTIES

RE-ADJUSTMENT AWAITED. P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 19. A declaration by the Government as to its intentions in regard to the future of the War Administration is eagerly awaited. At least some adjustment of portfolios and Ministerial responsibilities will be demanded by recent events. No appointment of a Minister for National Service has been announced since the resignation of Mr Broadfoot, who was one of the National Party Ministers to withdraw from the War Administration, and work involved in the administration of this important department will have to be assigned to some Minister. The breakdown of the administration also leaves the Minister for Industrial Manpower, Mr McLagan, in a somewhat curious position, as he is not a member of the domestic Cabinet or the War Cabinet. It will be interesting to learn whether other Ministers will he appointed to assume Minisiterial responsibility for the control of war expenditure, civil defence and primary production for war purposes so as to fill the offices recently vacated by Mr Holland, Mr Bodkin and Mr Polson. There is much speculation over the likelihood of Independent members and an Auckland provincial member of the Opposition being coopted to reconstitute the War Administration. Caucuses of the Labour Party were held last Wednesday and Thursday; another took place yesterday, lasting mere than three hours.