RIVALRY FOR CABINET POST

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1947, Page 7

RIVALRY FOR CABINET POST

WHO WILL REPLACE LA.TE HON. ; J. O'BRIEN? | \ WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. j To provide-the member of the Gov- ; ernment who will be seleeted shortly j to fill the vacancy caused by the death j of the Minister of Transport and : Marine, Mr. O'Brieu, the ballot for the | Cabinet vacancy is , likely - to .deveiop j into a trial of strength between the two eleinents in . the Parliamentary Labour I Party, the more conservative section j and the radicals. . Speeulation, in : the lobbies now I centres around two of the younger | members. It is .thouglit that the tinui • selection will rest between Mr. T. H. \ McCombs, uiider-sec retary to the Minis- j ter of Finanye and member for Lyttel- j ton, and Mr..F. G. .Coniiolly, junior | Government wliip aud member for Dun- | edin Central. Mr. McGombs can prob- j ably count on the support of the con- , sorvatives, while Mri 'Counolly has been associated with the- more radical element, headed largciy bv Mr. F. Langstolie (Iioskill) and Mr. W. T. Anderton (Auckland Gentral). The niost logical contender from Auckland for the vacancy would ' have been Mr, A. G. Osborne (Onehunga), but it is understood that he will not accept nomination. Yacancies in the Cabinet are iilled by a series of elimuiation ballots held by the caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Party. The last ballot was held to iill the vacancy caused by the death of the former Minister of Industries and Comnierce, Mr. Bullivan. From about 12 nominations the ballot soon narrowed down to four contestauts — • the successful member, Jie uew Minister of Health, Miss Howard, Mr. McGombs, Mr. Gonnolly and Mr. R. M. Maefarlane, senior Government whip and member for Christchurch Central. Mr. Maefarlane was elimiuated first, followed by Mr. Counolly, and in the iinal ballot Aliss Howard polled tive niore votos than Mr. McCombs. Geographieal considerations count largely iu the selection of Cabinet Ministers aud it can be assumed that the new .Minister will come from a South Islaud eonstitueuey. Apart f'ron: the outside chance of Mr. Maefarlane, the conting ballot is largely an issuc between Mr. McCombs and Mr. .Con* nollv. Unique Family Record. Mr. McCombs, who is 41, gradunted with honours as a master ot' science at Cauterbury College. He is an associate of the Royal IjL-stitute of Chemistry and won a two-year post-graduate national research scholarship in science at Cauterbury College. After being on the teaching stafl.' of the Christchurch Technical College lie joined the stalf of the Seddon Meniorial Technical College in 1934. While teaching there he wai given leave of absence to contest th« ijyttelton seat, wliich he won in Juuei 1935. ile has retained it ever since. The McCombs family has a unique record iu Xew Zealand politics, liaving held the Lyttelton seat in the interests of Labour since 1913. The seat was originalJy held by Mr. McCombs' fathcr and later by his motlier. Mr." McCombs volunteered for oversea's service in the .Fecond World i\'ar. Ile sorved in the home I'ofees, reaching ( the raiik ot captain. He is uiarried, and has a family oi' oue girl and three boys. Mr. Connolly's Career. Tdr. Conuolly is 10 years of age, and is uiarried with two children, botli girls, He was born in Dunedin and educated at Otago lligh Wchool. Aftei sefviug as an appreutico litter at tlu Hillside railwmy wo.rkshops in Dunedin he joined the*' Unib'ti Steani Ship Co., Ltd., and sorved as a seagoing marim engiuoor for seven years. During thc war lie served in ihe Xavy, reaching ■ the rank of lieutenaut -connuander, atiu he was awurded tlie Distinguished JSer vice Cross. Mr. Conuolly is weli known in muni cipal afl'airs iu Dunedin. Ile is a member of the luirbour board and hosjntai bourd. and has bueti ,a luember of the city counciJ since 1939. He was elected to Parliament in 1943.