ELECTION RUMOUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 October 1931, Page 4

ELECTION RUMOUR

'("Post" Special Commissioner.)

HQW DID IT ARISE? SIR J. PARR'S APPOINTMENT TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WELLINGTON, Saturday. Undoubtedly the most intriguing development of the past week has been the persistent rumour of an ea^ly general eleetio'n, Political circles are a hotbed of rumours, and most of them can be severely discounted, but the people who were j sponsoring the latest one are known | to have the confidence of some of those who, (perhaps 'unfortunately, are directing the destinies of the Dominion. Immediately the statement was published in some of the evening papers it was refuted by the leaders of both the United and Reform Pai*ties, but these denials have still left doubts in the minds of not a few who claim to be in the inside running. The rumour created a mild sensation inside the House and out, espeeially when it found its way into print, and there was excited eomment in the lobbies. The general opinion now is that it was inspired by someone in the United ranks in order to test the feeling of the Reform Party, and there seems little doubt that its originator is in the Cabinet and is now denying that the matter has been diseussed. Reform Leader's Delay It appears that Mr. Forbes has broaehed the subject of the election in Cabinet, but that Mr, Coates has waived it aside. It is a habit of the Reform leader to delay making up his mind. He seems to have the fatal trait of putting off the making of a decision until he is really forced to, and perhaps this explains why he seems to have failed as a leader. There is no doubting his energy — his record as Minister of Public Works and Railways in the Massey Government is proof of this — but as a leader he lacks initiative and resource. When he assumed the role of Cabinetmaker after the 1925 election, he took an abnoiunally long time to make up his mind, and when asked to choose a representative of his Party in the Coalition Ministry, he dillydallied until the last minute. Such a lack of decision does not inspire confidence, an,d may be a disconcerting factor in the new Cabinet. Now he will not make up his mind about the elections and it is said that this is the main reason why the other side inspired the rumour. If this be so, it can be confidently stated that the "Ministry of Talents" will come to a sad end. Reappointment of Sir James Parr to the leadership of the Legislative Council is being viewed with disfavour by a number of members of both the Reform and the United Parties, who do not hesitate to express their disapproval. Sir James had never been a popular figure in politics, and it will be remembered that he was one of the disturbing elements of the Reform Party, when the late Mr. Massey was in command. He and a number of others had practicaliy formed a new party in 1919, when three of them, Sir James Parr, the Hon. G. J. Anderson and Mr. E. P. Lee, were promoted to the Ministry. This put an end to the breakaway, but the incident is now being recalled. An Ambitious Man There is no doubt that Sir James is a man of ambitions. Immediately after his return to New Zealand he stepped into the political arena again and gained Reform nomination for i the Waikato seat. There are some who assert that he may have had eyes on the leadership of the Party and that his appointment to the Upper House has been a means of getting him out of the road. One of the main reasons for the resentment of members at the appointment has been due to the fact that Sir Thomas Sidey, who was leader of the Council before the formation of the Coalition, has been passed over. Sir Thomas, who is chiefly famed for the Daylight Saving Act, is a popular figure in politics, and it is contended that if Mr. Masters is unable to carry on the job of leader as well as Minister, then the leadership might well have reverted to Sir Thomas Sidey. After all, it is not a very onerous task, and there is no excuse, when the Government is endeavouring to economise, for adding another salary to the eivil list. Quite an interesting position has apparently developed over the ehairmanship of committees. When the Coalition Government was formed, it was decided that the position should be given to the ex-Minister of Labour, Mr. S. G. Smith, who held it before he was elevated to the Ministry. However, some of the Reform Party considered that Mr. A. Harris and Mr. J. A. Nash also had elaims to the office, and there is no doubt that there were discussions on the matter. Towards the end of this week it was stated that following Sir James Parr's appointment to the Upper House, the Reform Party had no more elaims to office and that Mr. Smith was assured of the chairmanship. But there is another obstacle in the way. The present chairman, Mr. W. A. Bodkin, shows no inclination to resign, and unless he does so he can be deposed only by a vote of the House. It is extremely unlikely that this step will be taken. The chairman of committees has an arduous job during certain periods of the session, but the office carries a salary of £607 10s per annum and a private room fitted with sleeping quarters. The Labour Party is very much intrigued over the situation.