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PORTFOLIOS KREGROUPED FOR NEW
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Departmental Changes
CANBERIRA, Sunday. - Imp ortant regrouping of portfolios of.,
the Federal Ministry was revealed by the Prime Minister (Mr., Men.
zies) in his new non-Labor Cabinet, announced to-night.
Mr. Menzies stated: "The names of the' departments are unaltered. This
does not mean we propose to maintain the present departmental organisa
tions. All changes, however, must be preceded by a close internal examination
of the departments and consultation with appropriate officers."
He added: "To give one illus
tratioun it is prpposed to establish
a Departneiiht of Niational DeveTop
ment under Mr. Casey. This may
include some elements now in
other departments.
"Similarly, future functions of
such departments as Post War Re
construction, Information, Interior
and Territories, and the arrange
ment of service portfolios will re
quire prompt examination.
"The list of Cabinet postings
must, therefore, be regarded
as, in a sense, tentative. I
propose also to establish an
intermediate office of Parlia
mentary Under Secretary.
"This post, which will carry no
pay beyond. ordinary Parliamen
tary salary, will provide valuable
experience for its- occupant, and
will give necessary assistance to
Minister~~.~6h heavy depattments.
liament, the office of Parlieman
tary Under Secretary could be
most useful.
"Functions of the Under Secre
tary will be to assist his Minister
upon request in such matters as
the taking of deputations, prepara
,ion of- material and legislation,
and handling of legislation in Par
liament, particularly in committee.
"The first appointment or ap
pointments to this office :will be
announced next week.
"It will also be necessary for
Cabinet to consider the appoint
ruent of Government whips."
The Government's nominee
for the Speakership of the
House of Representatives will
be Mr. Archie Galbraith Cam
eron (Liberal, S.A.).
SAME POLICY
Mr. Menzies' decision to appoint
under-secretaries to assist Minis
ters is a .continuation of the policy
he adopted when he was Prime
Minster previously.
Then he appointed assistant
Ministers whose services greatly
relieved senior Ministers of bur
This system, when adopted,
will give Mr. Menzies opportu
nity to give representation in
the Cabinet to West Australia,
which at present is the only
State from' which no Minister
has been appointed.
In allotting his portfolios to 14
Liberal and five Country Party
Ministers, Mr. Menzies has given
Victoria six Ministers (five Liber
al, one C.P.), N.S. Wales six (four
Liberal, two C.P.), Queensland
four (two Liberal, two C.P.), South
Australia two (Liberals) and Tas
mania one (Liberal).
Changes which Mr. Menzies has
made in the association of joint
portfolios inh the lkands of Indivi
dual Ministers have been: designee
to create smoother working of
Commonwealth administration.
Armny and Navy, formerly sep
arate portfolios, have been com
bined.
No surprise would be caused in
some quarters if eventually all
three services are placed under the
administration of the Minister for
Defence.
Some surprise has been
caused by the failure of Mr.
Menzies to take the Defence
portfolio himself.
Legal political experts here say
that, in transferring the Attorney
Generalship from the House of
Representatives to the Senate, he
has departed from a long-standing
practise.
.(Swearing-in To-day: Page 2)
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