“GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 1

“GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY”

PRIME MINISTER S ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF RESIGNING Special to THE SUN WELLINGTON, Today. QUESTIONED over the telephone about the current rumours that he intends to resign the Prime Ministership soon, Sir Joseph Ward replied:— “I have nothing- whatever to say. I have told them all along that there was no truth in it. I having nothing to add to that.” He added: “I am feeling very fine indeed, and lam getting better every day.”

In spite of this assurance, Sir Joseph's retirement from tlie politi,il arena is still regarded as some[iiing more than a possibility, and the situation within the United Party, if lie did resign, would he very interesting.

It is known that earlier in his term „£ office the Prime Minister did not look on the actions of the Hon. E. A. Hansom, Minister of Public Works, with a verj r favour-able eye. After the election, some of the public utterances of Mr. Ransom met with the displeasure of Sir Joseph, and, with reference to one statement on land settlement, the Prime Minister was reported to have said in comment on his colleague’s speech: “That is his own opinion.” Whatever the reason—and it is understead to have been not unrelated to the fact that Mr. Ransom was .inclined to view with favour a suggestion that there should be a fusion of the United and Reform parties, or at least an understanding between them —relations between the two Ministers were not entirely as cordial as they might have been.

At a later date, the Minister of Public Works is known to have introduced to Cabinet a scheme to provide work for uneinploj’ed men by placing them on the clearing of lands for settlement, a task which it was pro-

posed should be undertaken by 1,000 men as a beginning, and the numbers increased later. This scheme was rejected by Cabinet, though it was revived after the Prime Minister’s sudden promise in the House that , every man should be employed within j five weeks. Reliable information is that, despite j the fact that he was defeated by Sir Joseph Ward only in the final ballot I for leadership of the party, and that ! by a single vote, Mr. Ransom was one °T. the last Ministers chosen, and originally was not assigned the portfolio which now he holds. MR. FORBES’S CHANCES Therefore, if there is any question of Sir Joseph Ward naming liis successor, it seems more than likely that he would give bis support to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands. This would be uulikely to meet with the support of those of the party who are agreed that Mr. Forbes's leadership would have no chance of success with the country, but it might attract sdme supporters to Mr. Forbes, and would have the makings of a split within the party. Much depends upon what the Priir c Minister decides to da. If the choice is left to ballot, Mr. Ransom is almost certain to be elected—indeed, is the only leader in sight. Mr. H. Atmore, his only rival, is unlikely to receive, much support.