CABINET CHANGES

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 7

CABINET CHANGES

MR FORBES'S CHOICE TWO NEW MEMBERS SIR J. G. WARD INCLUDED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 28. The new Ministry and the principal portfolios are are follows: — HON. G. W. FORBES.—PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CUSTOMS AND MINISTER IN CHARGE OF SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH. SIR J. G. WARD.—A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE WITHOUT PORTFOLIO. HON. E. A.' RANSOM.— MINISTER OF LANDS AND COMMISSIONER OF STATE FORESTS. SIR API RANA NG ATA.— MINISTER OF NATIVE AFFAIRS AND MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE COOK ISLANDS. HON. H. ATMORE.— MINISTER OF EDUCATION. HON. W. A. VEITCH.—MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. SIR THOMAS SI DEY.—ATTORNEY GENERAL. HON W. B. TAVERNER— MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT. HON P. A. DE LA PER RELLE—MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE, TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORI'S. HON. J. G. COB BE— MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE, PRISONS, POLICE, WAR PENSIONS AND OLD AGE PENSIONS. HON J B. DONALD—POSTMASTER-GENERAL AND MINISTER OF MARINE. HON A. J. STALLWORTHY— MINISTER OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HOSPITALS. HON. S. G. SMITH— MINISTER OF LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION, HON. A. J. MURDOCH— MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINES.

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY MEASURES OUTLINED. STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. W. FORBES. Wellington, May 28. After being sworn in, the Prime Minister the Hon. G. W. Forbes, handed the following statement to the Press on assuming office: . “As Prime Minister I am fortified m facing my responsibilities by many indications that well-wishers are to be found among all classes of the community and in a personal sense I am happy to say also among political opponents. From those who may definitely differ from me politically, I know the Government now taking office will receive consideration and that there will be national and Imperial occasions upon which they will feel justified.in giving us their disinterested help. Taking office under circumstances of difficulty and regretful parting from active association with my distinguished leader (the Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Ward), whose outstanding services to the Empire and the Dominion will ever be remembered, I am undertaking the high duty with a' due sense of. humility and an earnest desire to serve the public weal to the fullest extent of my powers. I am conscious of my limitations, but I shall strive earnestly to do my best . fqr the country in which I was born and in which all my interests are centred. I speak on my own behalf and on that of .my colleagues when I say we will administer our offices with a full realization that the Government must preserve the rights and advance the welfare of the whole community and not of any sectional interest. We shall aim at well-balanced consideration of all factors contributing to the national advantage. A Government which does not enjoy a working majority is necessarily restricted in the pace at which it can progress on policy matters, but this difficult factor in our present Parliamentary position must not deter us from proceeding with many important measures on which there will be doubtless difference of opinion, though the objectives are of such great national importance that we may fairly anticipate from all parties in Parliament their aid in reaching the best solution.” Unemployment. “Notably should this be the case with the problem of unemployment which we will ask Parliament to approach with a desire to approve plans for a more permanent remedy than it has previously been possible to evolve. We have the deepest sympathy with those of our citizens who, through no fault of their own, are unable to find employment. It. will be our strenuous endeavour to alleviate their hardships. In submitting proposals to Parliament we have the advantage of additional knowledge of the causes and incidence of unemployment which will prove of great assistance in considering this very difficult problem. “The Government is fully seized of the fact that in public, as well as in private, affairs, finance is a matter of vital importance. It is recognized that solid progress cannot be made unless the. State pays its way and that sound public finance is a condition precedent to the welfare of the community. Accordingly the people of the Dominion can rest assured that this allimportant subject will receive from the Government the earnest attention it merits. Every endeavour will be made to see that the necessary burden on taxpayers is distributed as equitably as possible and that this burden is not increased if it can possibly be avoided, having regard to the legitimate needs of the Dominion as a whole. Requests for the State to provide additional services or undertake additional works will be considered in terms of taxation. In this connection it must be recognized that while there are many projects that might be undertaken for the benefit of the people generally we must consider whether the country can really afford such services in the light of present commitments and the relative economic position of producers and other sections of the community. In private life most of us have to forego many desirable things because we cannot afford them, ana the same inexorable economic laws must apply to the State which, of course, merely means the people organized as a community. The only difference is that it is much more difficult in public matters to determine what we can and what we cannot afford. In all such matters it rests with the Government to weigh the advantages against the cost from the point of view of the' people and the Government can be relied upon to do its utmost to promote the true interests of the country. At the same time so far as the existing services are concerned every effort will be made to obtain economy in administration and while doing justice to public servants in the matter of remuneration to ensure that the taxpayer gets value for his money. These are the broad principles underlying the financial policy of the Government. It is my intention to issue at the earliest possible moment a more comprehensive statement regarding the present financial position of the Dominion.

“Other vital factors contributing to the Dominion’s prosperity such as closer land settlement, encouragement of our secondary industries and a wise programme of public works development will receive the closest attention of the Government. The sound principles of Liberalism which have played such an important part in the progress of New Zealand in the past will still remain the guiding spirit of policy of the future. I shall be assisted by able colleagues who are now experienced administrators and who can be relied upon to take their full share of responsibility which the new Government is about to assume.” " MINOR PORTFOLIOS MINISTERS AND DEPARTMENTS. Wellington, May 28. The Hon. G. W. Forbes announced that the minor portfolios and departments had been allotted as follows: The Hon. G. W. Forbes.—Stamp duties and in charge of Public Trust, Legislature, State Advances, Land and Income Tax and High Commissioner’s Departments. The Hon. E. A. Ransom. —Minister in Charge of Land for Settlement, Scenery Preservation, Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement and Valuation Departments. The Hon. Sir A. T. Ngata.—ln charge of Native Trust, Government Life Insurance and State Fire Insurance Departments and Member of the Executive Council representing the Native race. The Hon. H. Atmore. —In charge of Electoral Department. The Hon. W. B. Taverner.—ln charge of Roads and Public Buildings. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle. —Publicity, Registrar-General’s, Statistician’s, Laboratories, Audit, Museums and Advertising Departments. The Hon. J. B. Donald.—Minister of Telegraphs and in charge of Friendly Societies, Inspection of Machinery, Public Service, Superannuation and National Provident Fund Department. The Hon. S. G. Smith—ln charge of Printing and Stationery Department. A LABOUR OPINION “BEST AVAILABLE SELECTION.” Hamilton, May 28. Commenting upon the new Cabinet, Mr W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, considers that Mr Forbes had made the best selection possible with the available material. Mr Ransom’s selection as Minister of Lands would give general satisfaction. Mr Lee Martin criticized the combination of agriculture and mines. The importance of agriculture warranted the full attention of the Minister. Reorganization of this department was long overdue. APPOINTMENT GAZETTED. Wellington, May 28. An extraordinary Gazette was Issued to-night announcing the resignation of the Ward Cabinet and the appointment of the new Executive Council and Ministry. NEW MINISTERS THE HON. A. J. MURDOCH. The Hon. A. J. Murdoch’s appointment will be popular among his Parliamentary colleagues, without regard to his political opinions, reports the Wellington correspondent of the Evening Star. His duties as Chief Government Whip involved close touch with all sides of the House, and his success in that sphere made it clear that when the opportunity offered he would get first preferment. The son of the former station master at Hikurangi, North Auckland, he is 53 years of age, and started life as a school teacher. Dairy farming attracted him many years ago, and he also showed an aptitude for public life, being prominent in North Auckland movements for securing greater expenditure on public works in the district. He was secretary to the Waipu Railway League and a member of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce. Mr Murdoch first won the Marsden seat in 1922, but was defeated in 1925, only to regain the confidence of this electorate at the following General Election.

Mr Murdoch is chairman of the committee conducting an inquiry into the Shops and Offices Act.

The Hon. S. G. Smith

The Hon. S. G. Smith first entered Parliament in the by-election for New Plymouth in 1918. Following a long experience in trade union affairs he has been on the National Executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and was secretary of the New Plymouth branch of that organization, and was an employee of the Railway Department when he decided to enter the political arena, following in the footsteps of his father, the late Sir E. M. Smith, whose representation of New Plymouth in the Liberal interest went back to the days of the Hons. Ballance and Seddon. Mr Smith is chairman of

the Taranaki Education Board, and has been prominently associated with technical secondary education in his district for many years, during;which time, the High School Board of Governors and the Technical College Committee amalgamated, these educational interests thus solving what continues to be a problem in many other districts, the duplication of education facilities. Mr Smith lost at the General Election in 1925, but regained the seat three years later, and served his party as Whip for one Parliament. When the Ward ~~ Government was constituted he was regarded among the probabilities for office, but, failing to enter Cabinet, was selected to almost an equally responsible office — namely, Chairman of Committees, in which capacity he has shown firmness, combined with ordinary qualities, which helped the House to get through last session’s famous stonewall without unpleasant scenes. He is chairman of the Royal Commission now investigating the operation of the workers’ compensation legislation. EORMER CABINET The following is the Cabinet selected by Sir Joseph Ward when he assumed the office of Prime Minister: SIR JOSEPH G. WARD, Prime Minister, Public Trust, Finance, Legislative, Stamp Duties, State Advances, External Affairs, Land and Income Tax, High Commissioner’s Department. The HON. G. W. FORBES, Lands, Land for Settlements, Agriculture, Scenery Preservation, Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement, Valuation. The HON. T. M. WILFORD, Justice, Police, Defence, Prisons, War Pensions. The HON. SIR A. T. NGATA, Native Affairs, Native Trust, Cook Islands, Government Life Insurance, State Fire. The HON. H. ATMORE, Education, Scientific and Industrial Research. The HON. W. A. VEITCH, Labour, Pensions, Mines, Electoral. The HON. E. A. RANSOM, Public Works, Roads, Public Buildings. The HON. W. B. TAVERNER, Railways, Publicity, Customs,' Advertising. The HON. J. B. DONALD, PostmasterGeneral, Public Service, Superannuation, Telegraphs, Friendly Societies, National Provident Fund. The HON. P. A. DE LA PERRELLE, In- . ternal Affairs, Registrar, General Statistician, Laboratory, Printing and Stationery, Audit, Museum. The HON. J. G. COBBE, Marine, Machinery, Industries and Commerce, Immigration. The HON. A. J. STALLWORTHY, Public Health, Mental Hospitals. The HON. T. K. SIDEY, Attorney-Gen-eral and Leader of the Legislative Council. i When the Hon. T. M. Wilford was ap- ' pointed High Commissioner, the following alterations were made: — The Hon. T. K. Sidey to be Minister of Justice and Minister in Charge of the Police and Prisons Departments. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe relinquishes the portfolio of Industries and Commerce and becomes Minister of Defence and Minister of War Pensions. The Hon. J. B. Donald relinquishes the portfolios of Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs and becomes Minister of Industries and Commerce. Sir Joseph Ward relinquishes the portfolio of Minister in Charge of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts and becomes Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle assumes control of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.