 In 1940 he was additionally made Minister of Health, although he was replaced by Arnold Nordmeyer in 1941, because of the problems negotiating with doctors over Labour's health proposals.In exchange he was appointed Minister of Works where he oversaw the extensive construction of defence emplacements that were necessitated by World War II.With the war becoming a more dominant issue he was downhearted by the governments decision to introduce conscription, and reputedly argued against it in cabinet.