Uppo Chiefs Did Not Invite Ward to Lead

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 439, 22 August 1928, Page 1

Uppo Chiefs Did Not Invite Ward to Lead

HOME BY AORANGI WILL GIVE ANSWER THEN

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) Reed. 9.24 a.m. VANCOUVER, Tues. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed, reaffirmed that 50 candidates of the New Zealand United Party had asked him to accept the leadership of that body. The invitation was contained in a cable which he received before he reached Winnipeg. “/YBVIOUSLY it would not be fitting to accept yet,” be said. “Upon arrival I will be met by the, 50 candidates and will give them my answer. I have so informed them by cable.” Sir Joseph said he had received no communication from the leaders of the party. He intimated that if a section of the party opposed his leadership, the situation would result in a political skirmish. He had not invited the offer. He is of the opinion that it will be a long time before the dream of Empire trade unity, pictured by British statesmen, would be realised. Only by building up and maintaining reciprocal trade within the Empire would the Commonwealth be unified. Sir Joseph sails for New Zealand by the Aorangi on Wednesday. “No official communication could possibly have been sent to Sir Joseph Ward without my knowledge or without the authority of the Dominion Executive,” said Mr. O. Moller, provincial organiser for the United Party, to-day. “That authority has certainly not been given.” “Probably an over-zealous supporter of Sir Joseph’s might have cabled him suggesting his leadership,” said Mr. Moller, by way of explanation. “The Dominion conference of candidates to he held in September will choose the leader, and no other person will have any say in the affair.” Mr. Moller said that Mr. Forbes, as spokesman for the party, had already made a statement that there was no foundation to the cable that Sir Joseph had been offered the official leadership of the United Party.”