By 1953, t-he same basic structure of the chief functional ministries
-continuous from 1892 to 1933-still remained. The consolidated Ministry
of Economic Affairs was split apart again to form three ministries: Agriculture, Communications, and Economic Affairs (Commerce). The
Royal Household Ministry was demoted to an autonomous bureau
but four new ministries were added: Public Health, Industry, Co-operatives,
and Culture, bringing the total up to fourteen, by including the
prime minister. Clearly the foundations laid by Chulalongkorn had been
lasting. Not only had they created a basic governmental structure which
could stand the strain of revolutionary pressures generated by the
abolition of the absolute monarchy itself, but they provided, in addition,
a floor on which further grorvth and development would be possible.