7 JUNE 1930, Page 2

Ministerial Posts In the House of Commons on Tuesday the

Prime Minister announced that Mr. J. H. Thomas has become Secretary of State for the Dominions. Hitherto it has been convenient for the two cognate Secretaryships of State, that for the Dominions and that for the Colonies, to be vested in one person, but it is most desirable to separate the offices in preparation for the Imperial Conference. The choice of Mr. Thomas to be the liaison Minister between the Government and the Conference is happy. Mr. Hartshorn succeeds Mr. Thomas as Lord Privy Seal. Apparently unemployment will be con- sidered in future by a Cabinet Committee presided over by the Prime Minister, but Mr. Hartshorn will no doubt be the Minister specially concerned. It is expected that now that Mr. Buxton has gone to the House of Lords there will be a new Minister of Agriculture. Dr. Addison is a strong favourite for the post. Agriculture is coming strongly to the front. The Times of Thursday published a captivating letter by Sir Horace Plunkett on the new hope for farming in a non-Party policy. Mr. Ben Turner has resigned from the Secretaryship of the Mines Depart- ment. Altogether there will be a considerable reshuffling of Ministerial posts.