Mr. McCombs Must Think Of A Better One

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1949, Page 7

Mr. McCombs Must Think Of A Better One

WELLINGTON, Dec. 9. "I would like to remind him that when hi3 own Party becaine. the Gov ernment in 1935 they had exactly the same nuiuber of South Island MiuisterM as I have," said the Prime Minister elefet, Mr. Holland, at a Press conference tonight when he rpplied to a state rnent by Mr. T. H. McCombs that the selection of the new Government 's Cabiuet was '-'a major blow to the South Island." Apparently what was right for Mr. Savage was wrong for himself, added Mr. Holland. "Mr. McCombs will have to employ his leisure hours thinking up better attacks on the new Government if he wants to become an effeetive opposi tionist, " concluded Mr. Holland. A full preliminary meeting of the Cabinet designate, which was also at teuded by those Ministers withoul portfolio, was held today in the room at present occupied by the Prime Min i-ster-elect, Mr. Holland, who told the Press conference that the first Cabinet meeting would be held during the after noon of December 13. The swearing-in eeremony would take place at Government House at II a.m. on the same day. The first meeting of the ExecutivcCouucil would be held on'the 14th. The Minister of External Affairs iii the new Government, Mr. F. W. Doidge, will fly to the Ceylon Conference leaving Auckland on January 2 and arriving in Ceylon in time for the meeting which will open on the 9th, said Mr. Holland. The complete delegation to represent New ZeaJand had not yet been decided upon, added Mr. Holland, but it wouid include a senior and a-junior ofiicer of the External Affairs Department. Mr. Holland said New Zealand had not yet received an invitation to attend the celebrations which were to be held cn the declaration of India's status as a Republic, but it was expected a New Zealand representative would be asked to them.