NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1920, Page 4

NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

SIR R. HEATOX RHODES; FORMER POSTMASTER-GENERA, (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.)' Wellington, Last Night. Sir R. 'H. Rhodes is the new Miniitor. Sir R. H. Rhodes, who was a member of the original Roform Ministry, is to take the portfolio of Defence. He Will be a popular, but probably not a Yery strong head of that department. He went to Egypt and Gallipoli early in the war with a special commission to inquire regarding the. welfare, of New Zealand soldiers, and i{ is an open secret that he was recommended for the command of the Mounted Brigade at that time. [Sir Robert Heaton Rb.od.ei, KnMt Commander of the Most Excellent Offler of the Britiah Empire, who is the ton of the ]Ate Mr. R. H. Rhodes, of Christchurch, was born at Purau, Lyttelton, in 1881. He was educated in New Zealand and England, graduating Bachelor of Arts at Brasenose College, Oxford, He was first returned to Parliament in 1899, when he was elected member for Ellcsmere, and he has retained that seat ever since. On the formation of the Heform Government in 1912 Mr. Rhodes became Postmaster-General and .Minister for Public Health. He retained these portfolios until the formation of the National Government in 1915, whett he relinquished his seat in the Cabinet in order to facilitate the even distribution of portfolios between members of the two parties. Later in thp same year Mr. Rhodes was appointed by the National Government to proceed to Egypt to report upon certain matters connected with the New Zealand base there. He visited Egypt and) Gallipoli, and after his return to New Zealand he went *• England in.the capacity of Red Cross Commissioner. He returned to the' Dominion shortly prior to the commence* ment of the late- election campaign.]