Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 24 May 1950, page 1


State leadership reshuffle

MINISTER QUITS CABINET POST

Portfolios

vacant

hJLR. WARNER, Minister for Hous-

ing, has asked Mr. Hollway, Premier, to relieve him of his port-folio as Minister for Electrical Undertakings.

Mr. Warner is understood to have done this because of his association in private life with a number of elec-trical companies.

During the election campaign the Government was criticised for allowing Mr. Warner to hold the post.

[Mr. Warner is managing director and chairman of direc-tors of Electronic Industries Ltd. and a number of subsidiary companies.]

Mr. Warner's decision will force Mr. Hollway, who yester-day was authorised to choose his own Ministers and allocate portfolios, generally to reshuffle

Cabinet.

I Two portfolios now become [vacant -? Electrical Undertak-

ings, and Lands, formerly held by Mr. Guthrie, who was de-feated at the election.

Mr. Hipworth, Assistant Min-ister, is also expected to lose his portfolio. Mr. Leggatt, Chief Secretary, is reported to» be "under a cloud."

Choice from five

Mr. Hollway is likely to select his Ministers from five Legislative Assembly members : Sir Thomas Maltby, Speaker; and Messrs. Norman (Glen Iris), McDonald (Dundas), Mibus (Borung), and Rey-nolds (Toorak).

Sir Thomas Maltby, Mr. Nor-man, and Mr. McDonald appear to have best claims.

The Lands portfolio is likely to go to Sir Thomas Maltby, and

Electrical Undertakings to Mr.

Norman.

If Mr. Hollway decided to re- * shuffle the Transport Ministry, held at present by Mr. Guye, this would probably then go to

Mr. Norman.

Sir Thomas Maltby's position depends largely on whether he is renominated as Speaker.

The Parliamentary Party's decision yesterday to leave se-lection of Ministers to Mr. Holl-way came as a surprise.

The decision was a personal triumph for Mr. Hollway, and is interpreted as a complete vote

of confidence in him.