NEW MINISTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1920, Page 4

NEW MINISTERS.

MR. PARR AND MR. LEE. MR. COATES TAKES PUBLIC WORKS. OTHER CHANGES FORESHADOWED. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Lust Night. In the course of a long and important address to the Conference of Chambers of Commerce to-day the Prime Minister made referral*.' to the reconstruction of the Ministry and announced the allotment of the portfolios of Publlo. Works, Justice, and Education. The new appointments announced were:— Minister of Public Works—Hon. J. G, Coatcs (at present PostmasterGeneral and Minister of Justice). Minister of Justice—Mr. E. P. Lee (member for Oamaru). Minister of Education—Mr. C. J, Parr (member for Eden). Mr. Massey then -referred to the chamgtcs in other diroctions, 'He did not think it was possible to appoint a Minister of Commerce with nothing else to do than to attend to that department. It would be unjust to other departments. He himself had seven departments under his control and he did not complain of over work. Sir William Herries had i'eVen departments, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie four, the Hon. J. G. Coates fire, and Siy Francis Bell seven. The Prime" Minister foreshadowed at least, two other changes. Sir William Herries and Sir Francis Bell had expressed a desire to retire, but he had induced them to stay at leftft through the coming session. Sir William Herries was a man of the clearest judgment, he said, and had obtained as Native Minister the complete confidence of the Natives. Similar reference was made to the services of the leader of the Legislative Council, Sir Franois Bell, URGENT PUBLIC WORKS. NEW MINISTER CONGRATULATED. Christehurch, Last Night. Mr. Sullivan, M.P., secretary of thq Canterbury members of Parliament, sent the following telegram to Mr. Coates, the new Minister of Public Works: "The (Canterbury members of Parliament committee congratulates you on your appointment as Minister of Public Work/ We trust you will (tire Canterbury matters a just share of your attention. We specially recommend to your notice, and in national as well as provincial interests, the -.irgenev that exists of completing the East and West Coast railways. This work has proceeded ftt too slow a pace, and the Dominion is losing thousands of pounds a week in interest nn money expended and not yet, revenue producing. We look to you to accelerate the completion of Die work."