NEW PRIME MINISTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 5

NEW PRIME MINISTER

MR FRASER APPOINTED TENTATIVE ARRANGEMENT OF CABINET. PARTY CAUCUS TO MEET ON THURSDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The appointment by the Governor-General of the lion P. Fraser as Prime Minister of New Zealand is announced in a “Gazette Extraordinary” issued last night. In a subsequent statement Mr Fraser said that his Excellency had summoned him to Government House yesterday afternoon and invited him to form a Ministry. He had advised his Excellency that it would be necessary to consult his party before any recommendations could be made for the formation of a new Ministry, but that he was willing to make tentative arrangements for a provisional Ministry. Under those conditions his Excellency had appointed him Prime Minister till such time as the party could be consulted in regard to more permanent proposals. Mr Fraser said that caucus was to meet on Thursday to consider the position. The following statement was issued yesterday from Government House: “His Excellency the GovernorGeneral sent for the Honourable P. Fraser, M.P., at 2.30 p.m. today and invited him to form a Ministry. Mr Fraser agreed to form forthwith a provisional Ministry pending an opportunity of consulting his party, and stated that recommendations in respect of a new Ministry would be submitted at the end of the week.” The “Gazette” announces that existing members of the Executive Council have been confirmed in that office, and that existing Ministers have been confirmed in their Ministerial offices. It also announces the appointment of the Hon F. Langstone as Minister of External Affairs, Native Minister and Minister for the Cook Islands.

FRESH MINISTRY STATEMENT BY MR FRASER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Following his appointment as Prime Minister, Mr Fraser stated that certain' minor adjustments of portfolios had been made, but that all the arrangements were purely of a temporary nature. He said that, in accordance with constitutional law and practice, the death of Mr Savage immediately imposed a duty upon his Excellency.the Governor-General, as the direct representative of the Crown, to call upon some person to take the office of Prime Minister, the holder of which has special constitutional functions and duties. His Excellency’s action in refraining from carrying out that , duty till after the actual burial of the late Prime Minister was very fully understood and appreciated. '•.“Accordingly,”, said Mr Fraser, "his Excellency this afternoon summoned me 'to Government. House and invited me to form, a Ministry. I advised his Excellency that it would be necessary for me to consult my party before any recommendations could be made for the formation of a new Ministry, but that I was willing to make such tentative arrangements for a provisional Ministry as would suit the circumstances. Under these conditions, his Excellency appointed me Prime Minister till such time as the party can be consulted in regard to more permanent proposals.” Mr Fraser pointed out that a change in the office of Prime Minister, in accordance with the constitutional practice, necessarily involved the creation of a fresh Ministry. "Pending consideration of the position by the party, he said, “I felt that it was desirable to ask his Excellency to fill temporarily the actual portfolios held by the late Mr Savage and to confirm in their present offices all the present members of the Executive Council and holders of Ministerial offices. This course, on my recommendation, his Excellency adopted following my appointment as Prime Minister. “Accordingly, the portfolios of Native Affairs, External Affairs and the Cook Islands, held by the late Mr Savage, have been allocated to Mr Langstone, who has for some time past been discharging the duties of these portfolios. "I propose to call caucus together to consider the position on Thursday next."

PROVISIONAL CABINET »By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. With the appointment of Mr Fraser as Prime Minister, and the appointment of Mr Langstone to the portfolios previously held by the late Mr Savage, the full list of Ministers and their portfolios is as follows: — The Hon Peter Fraser, Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of Health and Minister of Marine. The Hon Walter Nash, Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs, Minister of Stamp Duties, and Minister of Marketing. The Hon Daniel Giles Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce and Minister of Railways. The Hon Henry Greathcad Rex Mason, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The Hon. Hubert Thomas Armstrong Minister of Immigration. The Hon Robert Semple, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Transport. The Hon William Edward Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs. The Hon Patrick Charles Webb, Minister of Labour and Minister of Mines. The Hon Frederick Jones, PostmasterGeneral and Minister of Telegraphs and Minister of Defence. The Hon William Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture. The Hon Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands, Minister of External Affairs, Native Minister, Commissioner of State Forests, and Minister for the Cook Islands. The Hon David Wilson, Member of the Executive Council without portfolio.