SERIOUS BREAKDOWN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 388, 24 November 1932, Page 3

SERIOUS BREAKDOWN

minister to retire C MR. H. S. GULLETT FORCED r TO TAKE COMPLETE REST. RESULT OF OVERWORK. Canberra, Saturday. Ill-health may shortly compel the temporary retirement from aetive politics of Mr. H. S. Gullett, Minister for Customs and Ottawa delegate with Mr. Bruce. Overwork brought on an illness which has developed more seriously than was at first expected, and under medical advice, Mr. Gullett may have to take six months complete rest. Hoping against hope Cabinet has deferred from to-day an announcement of the Minister's state. It is now felt, however, that there is only the slightest prospect of avoiding a'new appointment. Mr. Gullett has been at his Tharwa f arm house since his second reading speech. The Minister has with great difficulty heen dissuaded from any interest in the affairs of his departmejjt, and though in an extremely low state, his main interest is the progress of the policy to which he has sacrificed his health'. So weak is he that attempts to move him to Frankston, where it was thought he would be completely sever■ed from the political environment, had to be abandoned. He is not permitted to see any visitors except close relativesj and at times he has not been in a condition to receive even them. Unless there is a sudden improvement in Mr. Gullett's condition, an announcement on the subject will he made next week and another Cabinet vacancy will arise. For some time, however, it is unlikely that any one but Mr. Lyons himself will assume the full responsibility of the Customs administration 1 at this period, when Ottawa is the outstanding responsibility of the p'ortfolio.