[5] When Massey died in 1925, Nosworthy gained the more important role of Minister of Finance in the interim government of Francis Bell.

[6] Nosworthy contested the leadership ballot to succeed Massey, but was defeated by Gordon Coates.

[8][9] There was rumours that Coates wished to drop Nosworthy from cabinet in his post-1925 election reshuffle.

Newspapers thought he along with several others would be dropped and the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, also disliked Nosworthy thinking him 'boring'.

[10] As Minister of External Affairs he was in charge of Samoa where disaffection among locals with the Mau movement.

He opposed the movement demand for self governance and determination, supporting the Administrator of Western Samoa, George Spafford Richardson, to deal with increasing civil unrest.