"FANTASTIC"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 365, 28 October 1932, Page 5

"FANTASTIC"

("Post"

RUMOUR CONCERNING MR. GOODFELLOW AND MR. COATfES HIGH C OMMIS SIONERSHIP

Special Commissioner".)

Wellington, Thursday. The report current in Auckland tbday that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates would go to London shortly and'.take up the position of High Commissiori'er or Resident Minister and that Mr: W. Goodfellow would contest the then vacant Kaipara seat with a view 'of ultimately assuming the leadership Of the Reform Party, was ridiculed hy the Prime Minister and other 'members of Cabinet to-night. "There is absolutely nothing in'this rumour; it is an absolutely fantastic story," said Mr. Forbes. "No changes are contemplated or known of." In other Ministerial circl'es, the view is held that the rumour is of the "leg-pulling" variety and too absurd to warrant the courtesy of a formal denial. It is suggested that the story probably originated in the fact that some months ago, Cabinet gave a measure of consideration to the'idea of f ollowing the Australian policy and appointing a Resident Minister 'in London. As Mr. Coates was leading the New Zealand delegation to Ottawa at the time and was thoroughly equipped to fill a position ' such as th'e one 'then coiitemplated, his name was haturally associated with any possible appointment. Since then, of 'eourse,'* "Sir Thomas Wilford's tefm has been extended for 12 mqnths and the proposal mentioned has 'been abandoned."' . ' Tlie colour df the rumour was also probably heighten'ed hy tlie" "fact that Mr. Goodfellow has been a fairly. cohstant attendant at Parliament House lately. ' ' " " " /