Who Will Pick The Plums From Political Basket? Fate of Elsie Walker

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 1

Who Will Pick The Plums From Political Basket?

Fate of Elsie Walker

WITH the three parties so evenl; balanced and with the restricts number from whom oflicers am ministers may be chosen; con siderable finesse is required m dealing with appointments. Care must be taken that no gap ii left m the ranks that may be filled b; a political enemy and the balance o power disturbed. At the same time consideration ha to be given to the just claims of Part; adherents when Official appointment are being made. That is the prpblen facing the United Party Leader now. The term of Sir James Parr, a Reform appointee and supporter, has expired. He must either get an extension or someone must be ...sent to, fill the position. £- ; -'it"is believed by some that the Prim* Minister himself would not be avers* to serving /the Country m London as High Commissioner and there is nc doubt that he would do /so with distinction just as lhuch as lie did wher m the more important role as Ministei of Finance m the Coalition Governfnent. ( The question immediately arises however, as to who would step into th< Prime Minister's : rlace \ as Leader o: the United Party and Leader of th< House. Two names have been freely men tioned m this lespeet. The first v. that of the Postmaster-General, th( Hon. J. B. Donald. -It is hard to conceive that such tried and capable politicians as Messrs. Forbes, Atmore, Wilford and Veitch would lightly allow themselves to be passed oyer by one who has hardly yet cut his political wisdom teeth, and has yet to show the country that he has the attributes of a statesman or a Leader. It may be that the Hon. J. B. Donalc will yet rise pre-eminent m his positior as a Cabinet Minister, but that, is i question that .time alone can answer. The other name that has receivec more than passing mention m politica circles is .that of the member foi Egmont, Mi*. C. A. Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson was returned as an Independent m opposition to the Coates Administration and he has maintained that role duringMhe present session. It is significant that he is the only member who is not a follower of Sir Joseph Wsrd to receive an appointment m an official capacity. He occupies the position of Chairman to the Local Bills Committee. iiiiiiiimiiiiiiuniiiHUiiiiimiiiMiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimimi

Problem of Choice of Successor Bristles , With Interesting Possibilities

PROSPECTS FOR HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP

(From "N.Z. Truth V Special Politica Not for many years has the political atmosphere of New Zealand been so obscure, and, m consequence, Dame Rumor is busy. . Her whisperings and hints percolate through the Legislative corridors and lobbies. She is kept busy of late concentrating on the question of the High Commissionership. Will Sir Joseph Ward go to London? That is the question she asks, and then, if he does: Who. will lead the House?

~" This appointment hardly squares y with the rumors tiiat ho refrains from d actively associating himself with the ,j Government Party solely on account of the fact that' he cannot reconcile him-' „ self to the Leadership of Sir Joseph 3 Ward. s If such is the case, why did he rey ceive a mark of favor that may have £ been offered to the -Labor Party m view of the fact that it is to the g Government's interest to keep the laty ter as, friendly, as T-bssible? s Another prominent Government supa porter who, though not m the present House, would\ 'have strong claims- on, the Leadership of the party N in, the ' event of Sir Joseph going to London, is Mr. R. Masters, of Stratford. But .__

; " would he be elected) in a by-election • to make him eligible? \ Mr. Masters is an incisive debater, * a good business i?;an, and is credited 1 with having had a big' share m securing the success of the Party at the last election. He has many business interests and at present is also chairman of the Now Zealand Transport Board which is a creation of the present Government. He has had considerable Parlia-i lIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIiniIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

mehtary experience and is the possessor of an aggressive personality, He would probably be more acceptable to the rural interests of the Party tnan would the Hon. J. B. Donald. , It is likely that, after Sir Joseph has supplied the policy and has set m motion the necessary machinery to carry it along, a steady hand would be needed at the helm to • guide the ship of State. In that • case, choice of Leadership might revert back to some of the tried • and trusted stalwarts of the Party. Consider the claims of the Honorables Atmore, Veitch and Forbes. The last-named is probably the most active of the Ministers and is receiving credit for infusing more life into his department than has been the case for a decade. -^ . .-- - - . ■ By doing this he is performing a real « 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ( I ■I ) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 » ] 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 U 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ( I II I T I I I I I I I I I

Like the Hon. Forbes, he would be well able to carry to fruition a ; steady programme of progressive l legislation once the way was cleared for him. v His record as Mayor of Dunedin was marked by this cnaracteristic and his obvious honesty of purpose would commend it to a great many members who dp not relish intrigue or opportunism. All this is on the assumption that Sir Joseph Ward is likely to step into .the less strenuous position of High . .Commissioner m London. ' Supposing * he does not, and m very truth the evi- > dence that he will is very slender, who : then will be the chosen one to watch " the country's interests abroad? L The position of High Commissioner, requires'^ variety- of accomplishments:- --[ T-d^i older is expected to be the repreiiiiiii'iiiniiiniiiiiiiiniiniHiiiiHiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

THE developments m the Elsie Walker case following "N.Z. Truth's" startling disclosures of the latest aspects of the tragedy have resulted m a sensational sequence of events which have elevated the mystery once more to front-rank importance. Following the publication of "Truth's" exclusive story of the mysterious meeting between Mrs. F. Bayly and Mrs. Thomasen m Foster's Hotel, Wanganui, came the unexpected release by the Bayly solicitors of all the correspondence that passed between the two women. Then, close on the heels of the solicitors' decision came the announcement that the Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., had recommended that the inquiry be re-opened. On page 7 will be found a further exclusive story dealing fully with the latest developments of the case. jinMii.'ruiiniiiMniMUiiiMiHiiiHiiiuHiiniiMiitMCCttiifurrMiiMMUMMtiMMiMMiiMMnMMnMMMMiiiMMMMiiunfiuiniiiiiitutiiitniiinMiiuiMnn.i.iiniiniMMiinitiiMniit

public service. Politically, howevei the Minister of /Education has alway been something of a lone hand. His very entnusiasm itself, has ofte sent- him along paths that the rest o his Party were chary of treading. If anything would cause his possibl succession to the Leadership to be re garded with misgiving by his. col leagues it would te this trait and no any. lack of ability. The Honorable Veitch has the qualities of persistency and down-, Tightness. Of a Baldwin rather than the scintillating brilliance of a Churchill. As a follower of a party he would be regarded as a stayer, but cannot be said to demonstrate the inspirational qualities of a leader. This narrows^ the issue down to tin Hon. George Forbes, the man who lei

the party, not with _ brilliance, be it said, but with steadfastness and honesty of purpose, through the times of its most arduous trials. He it was who stepped into the breach and carried the banner when the ranks we re wavering; he it was who unselfishly stepped back to the ranks when the time came when the Party rallied and a new Leader w i t h wider vision was sought. He would be the very man to carry out a policy of progress once the plans were laid for him. Also, as a farmer, he would carry weight with the country electorates and could be depended upon to hold ' the scales of justice evenly between the conflicting rural and urban interests that confront every • political party m New Zealand. There, is yet another Minister to be ' considered who, although not backed by a great deal of actual political experience, but one who, nevertheless, is endowed with a good deal of statecraft and is personally popular, is the Hon. W. B. Taverrier, of Railways.-

r, sentative of his country both socially s and politically. 'He must have some social standing or ability and must be n tactful, iogical and eloquent. r Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, late M.P. c for Westland, nnd son of the late Richard Seddon, most famous Liberal Prime Minister the country lt has had, has been the popular tip for some time past, but there has been no public pronouncment to justify the rumors. There is also the fact that his attitude to Sir Joseph Ward immediately before the election was not altogetner palatable to some of the party stalwarts. lt was felt that he was inclined to waver m his allegiance to the banner that had carried him through and, c indeed, the spectacle was witnessed of d j Sir Joseph Ward declaring that he

would vote, with Labor on a vote of no- confidence m the Reform Administration and Mr. Seddon declaring that he could not, but would rather follow Mr. Coates into the lobby. There is no. doubt that Mr. Seddon has many of the social attributes that are required of a High Commissioner. Where he is. considered to fall short is on the executive side. In the House, despite the shadow of tiis famous fighting, forceful father to urge him on, Mr. Seddon never gave signs of rising to any great height, and was something of a disappointment tc the rugged "West Coasters who sent him there. He was affable, cultured and - wellliked, but never inspiring, and failed to attract attention m debate. Then there is the political strategy to be considered. Mr. Seddon is ;a defeated candidate, and it is not always considered advisable, from a tactical point o f view, to elevate defeated candidates to important public positions. It may be that Mr. Seddon will find solace* m an Upper House appointment,

but it is felt m well-informed circles that Sir Joseph,- with his keen knowledge of the importance of the High Commissionership, will exhaust tne possibilities of other avenues, before deciding on sending Mr. Seddon to London. There are others with strong claims to the position and one man who does not come much under the public eye, but nevertheless cannot be discounted as a possibility, is Mr. Stronach Paterson, who represented the Government m London,; on, the Meat Control Board and is then said to have won kudos -on account of nis tactical ability. Then there is the case of Mr. Jenkins, member for Parnell. It is said that he

\ ■ narrowly missed a place m the Cabinet and may have claims for appointment to the High Commissionership. ■- Another quiet tip, but one to which "Truth" does not attach much importance, is that of Mr. Cecil Wood, of Cnristchurch, whose social and business ability are considered by some to recommend him for the appointment. There is one man, however, m the Party itself, who must stand out head and shoulders above the iiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiii

others for the peculiar ability that is required from the holder of the position. That is the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. The Hon. Wilford has more experience and more political and social ability than any of the others except the Prime Minister himself. •An old Parliamentarian, he has a thorough knowledge of the country's requirements politically. A sportsman and a man of the world, he would be able to mix equally well with the downright Labor statesmen m England or the reserved followers of the Conservative school. It is hard to conceive of a more popular appointee, socially and otherwise," or one who could be depended upon to make a wider appeal. From the social point of view he would be be assisted m no small degree by his popular daughter, Miss Isobel • W'lford, who is wellknown to Londoners on account of her ability k as an actress, which profession she has followed from t her enthusiasm for the art and not from necessity. It is safe to say that the Hon. Wilford would have leceived the appointment long ago had the political situation been more secure m New Zealand. There is a feeling, however, that if he ventures off to London, his seat may be lost to the Party and it can ill afford to sacrifice a safe seat at the present juncture. It may be that this factor will cause Sir Joseph Ward to extend the 1 term of Sir James Parr for a period m order to await developments. The Hon. T. M. Wilford represents the Hutt electorate and with the industrialisation of this area during the last few years it lias become regarded by Labor as a plum ripe for the plucking. He has held it against all-comers and there. is a feav ; abroad that if he goes away the seat may be lost. "Truth" is by no means sure that these fears are well grounded and, if a candidate is chosen who can make a sufficiently strong appeal to the Hutt electors, there is no reason to believe that this ..old Liberal stronghold will not retain its allegiance to the Party and at the same time allow, the country to have the services m London of the man best aWe to carry the position. iiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii