UNITED PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 5

UNITED PARTY

VACANT LEADERSHIP MR R. MASTERS NOT AN ASPIRANT REPORTS DENIED (Per United Press Association.) Stratford, May 20. The following statement which has appeared in some papers was referred to Mr K. Masters: A new figure in the field of speculation regarding the successor to Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Minister has appeared in the person of Mr Robert Masters, formerly the member for Stratford and chairman of the United Party during the 1928 election campaign. It is stated in Taranaki that he may wield stronger claims to succeed Sir Joseph than any of the three men named, the Hons. G. W. Forbes, E. A. Ransom and 11. Atmore. Mr Masters left for Rotorua just before the week-end and will be absent for several days. While Mr Masters stated from time to time recently that he had no intention of again seeking Parliamentary honours, there seems little doubt that should a caucus of the United Party express such wish, he would enter the field. The position will not be chrystallized until Sir Joseph Ward actually resigns both the leadership and his seat in the House, which latter act is regarded as being far from remote. It is common knowledge that Mr Masters played a leading nart in Sir Joseph Ward’s campaign in Invercargill in 1928. The chances of Mr Masters re-entering the House through the vacancy that might be created are regarded as bright. While Mr Masters is not a member of this Parliament, that fact is not likely to depreciate his chances, ■ for his services to the party are held in high esteem. When the statement was brought under his notice, Mr Masters said: The purpose of my visit to Rotorua was to confer with Sir Joseph Ward on business of a purely private nature and had nothing to do with the selection of a leader to succeed Sir Joseph. As far as he was concerned, Mr Masters went on, his present intention was that he would not re-enter politics, and that being so, he found it difficult to understand why his name has been mentioned as an aspirant for the position of leader. Certainly no suggestion of the kind had ever come from him.

In conclusion, Mr Masters expressed the hope that whoever was selected as leader would still have Sir Joseph Ward associated with him in Cabinet as Minister of Finance. In saying that he believed he was expressing the opinion of the vast majority of the people of the Dominion.