Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 20 December 1949, page 1
CABINET OVER FROM
HADLEY GOVT.
i 'i.
SWORN IN BY
GOVERNOR GENERAL
r^jfct'fe¿Í$'p.rii. yesterday the Chifley Labour Ôpyerihtittent officially ceased to administer the
affairs of the Commonwealth and the MenziesFrfddèn^CIove'rnment assumed office.
less change took place automatically with the swearing-in of the Menzies Government by the wo'ferrior-Genera!, Mr. W. J. McKell, at
Government House.
The new cabinet held its first meeting at Parliament House at 5 pm
All of the new Ministers had arrived in Canberra by 130 p in and took over their new offices immediately after the swearingin ceremony.
By 6 pm almost all of the former Labour Ministers had left Canberra and were returning to their homes, after handing over their department to their successors ,
From early morning, Parliament House yesterday was a scene of intense activity, with other Ministers moving into their new offices and the old Ministers destroying personal flies and let tees, arid vacating rooms which they had occupied for almost nine years
Most touching scenes of the day were those of members of the staffs of former Ministers canvassing incoming administrators for positions on their staffs.
Certain of the retiring Minis-fire had made sure that their personal staffs would receive new positions, but many were left to fend torsthems^Vcc.---^
, Appointments to Ministerial staffs are at the discretion of the Ministers in office at the urie l e
Many members of the staffs of Labour Ministers who are public servants will have to return to their old Departments
Several of the retiring Ministers whose departmental headquarters are in Canberra, yesterday called at their departments and bade farewell to the members of the stairs
A few minutes after 2 pm
a week) of 10 sleek, black Government
Buick cars drew up at Parliament House and the Prime Minister-elect (Mr Menzies) and his 18 Ministers entered them for
the drive to Government House
At Government House Mr Menzies was met on the steps by. An aide and escorted to the study, where Mr. McKell awaited his. v ,
His Ministers filed into the ballroom, where they were received by the Official Secretary (Mr Murray Tyrell) They took seats in order of their seniority of Mr. Menzies', Cabinet list
A few minutes later Mr. MtKell and Mr Menzies entered) Mr McKell taking his pace at a table facing the assembled Ministers u "
His staff then took their positions behind him and Mr Tyrell called the name of Mr Menzies
of Menzies stepped to the table and was handed a Bible
Mr Mckell, addressing Mr Menzies, said "I have approved your appointment as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, and I now invite you to make, the oath of that office"
Holding, the Bible aloft Mr. Menzies then took the oath of office, swearing to well and truly serve His Majesty King George the Sixth in his office as Prime Minister
Other Ministers were then similarly sworn in almost all of them kissing the Bible at the cohesion of the, oath
A The six Ministers, with the ex ceptionj>.©f¿ Dame Enid Lyons, Vice-President of the Executive Council, who Vd not had previout Cabinet \ experience, were called upon to make three oaths Firstly they had to swear alle glance, to the King secondly, they had to take the Executive Councillor's oath swearing to the best of. their, (judgment to give counsel and advice to the Gov-ernor-General and to observe the secrecy of many matters debated in Executive Council and thirdly they took the truth to well and truly serve the king in the administration of their office
Those who took the three oath were Senators Cooper, O'Sullivan < Spooner and Spicer,
and Mr. scales
AsfVice«Prealdent of the Executive
Council, Dame Enid Lyons was called upon! to take only the first two oaths
'These, at her own request she swore on the Bible on which her late husband the former Prime Minister Mr J A Lyons, also was sworn in as Vice-President of the executive Council
On being sworn, Dame Enid was handed by Mr McKell a delegation of authority, authoris-ing her to convene meetings of the Executive Council, to preside at such meetings in the unavoid-able absence of the GovernorGeneral and to certify the proceedings to the Governor-General
She was also authorised to permit another senior Minister to preside at ratings of the Executive council in the absence of the Governor General and
herself
As each. Minister was sworn, His Excellency inscribed the Bible used by the Minister and handed it to him
Each Minister signed a copy
of the oaths sworn and handed them to Mr McKell, who will keep them for record purposes
At the conclusion of the ceremony Mr McKell addressed the assembled Cabinet on the importance of the high office which had been bestowed upon them
Mr Menzies, thanking Mr McKell, replied on behalf of the
Ministers
* Soon after the ceremony
special Government Gazette was issued announcing the resigna-tion of Mr Chifley and the appointment of the new Government
Before leaving Government House the Cabinet posed with Mr McKell for press and movie photographers
Mr Menzies made a short speech in which, he said the new Government accepted the enormous task bestowed upon it by the people and would represent not only those who voted for it but also those who voted against
it
The real thing we have to produce it not only national prosperity but national unity, he
added
Alterations to Parliament House to accommodate the enlarged Parliament, which have been proceeding for some months, are almost complete and there will be ample space for new members when Parliament as-sembles in the second week of
February j