UNITED PARTY LEADER

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4455, 22 May 1930, Page 2

UNITED PARTY LEADER

Ft )FR A STM RANTS. If ON. G. \Y. FORTIES TO SITT'RED SIR JOSEPH WARD. Wellington, Last Right. The Hon. (1. W. Forbes was tonight elected leader of the Failed Party and virtually Prime Minister of New Zealand in succession to Ihe Rt. lion. Sir Joseph Ward, who will take an early opportunity, probably to-morrow, of recommending his Excellency the GovernorGeneral to invite Mr. Forbes to form a Ministry. This Mr. Forbes will undertake to do. There were four nominations for the position, the candidates being the lions. (!. W. Forbes, H. A. Ransom, W. A. Veitch and 11. At.more. Each candidate was given an opportunity of addressing the canons and outlining the main planks of (lie policy be would adhere to. The decision was made by means of elimination ballots. In Ihe til’s! test the Ifons. W. A. Veileli and !l. Aftimre "tied'* in ■ bottom place, and it was agreed that both should be eliminated. The issue uns then fought out by Messrs Forbes and Ransom and after the ballot bad boon taken it vas announced that Mr. Forbes had been elected. The actual details of the voting, it is understood, were nor announced, although it. is believed that the margin of victory was narrow.

It is stated that Mr. Hansom was the first, to congratulate Mr. Forbes on his victory. The Tlmi. Sir Thomas Sidey (Attorney-General) and Mr. G. C. Muons (Roskill) acted ns scrutineers for the ballot.

Quick use was made of the long distance telephone lo advise Sir ■loH'pli Ward at Rotorua of the result, but it is said that the retiring I “rime Minister was asleep. The lime was ilien !).J5 p.m.