United Party Gains Hope and Confidence

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 12

United Party Gains Hope and Confidence

“COMPLETE SATISFACTION’ HOUSE TO MEET JUNE 2b. THE SIX'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. Parliament, it has b«**rt decide will open on June 26. when the new Prime Minister, the Hon. G W. Forbes, will meet the Houm Sir Joseph Ward has not yet resigned, but it is stated that hi, resignation will be in the Hands ot the Governor-General in a days. This morning was a morning telegrams for Mr. Forbes and teleTrar.boys Mere arriving at Farliami* Buildings with bundles of 20 at a ti^ a ‘ containing messages of the most congratulatory nature from all parts*# New Zealand. The appointment the new Prime Minister has mat vrjt' the approval of his Mide circle friends, and when the Sun ropr €S p tative saw him today he was snj/ rounded by batches of telegrams » foot high and he Mas still opening reading others as they arrived. news of his appointment must hav* reached some of Mr. ForbesV friend very early last evening, for the firr two telegrams arrived last night abcu* an hour after the announcement. Today the avalanche of congratuh* lions started and gathered force as ti.l morning advanced. The most strikin' of all came from Mr. Jack Jackm**!" an old friend of Mr. Forbes froi® Cheviot. His congratulations prefaced with the phrase. From W cabin to White House,'* Mhich Is py* ticularly apt as applied to Georte Forbes, who told the Pressmen that he built his own lean-to when started on the selection that he so successfully farmed at Cheviot. ‘ When we arrived at Cheviot," gj;,* Mr. Forbes, "we camped under a drsv the first night and then lived in a tni for some time before wc had the !?ar.. to finished I batched for five yea < on my own. too.”

WARD’S CONGRATULATIONS Among the mesages was one from Sir Joseph Ward, Mhich ran: *i very pleased to hear last night v your selection as successor to me ■.% Loader of the L'nited Party and I desirto congratulate you very, very heartil • on your appointment. I have the umost confidence in your capacity « discharge the duties and reffponsibHities of the position and with the loyal co-operation and assistance which wi i be accorded to you by members of the party. I feel sure that the principle, and ideals forw hich the party standi M ill be in safe keeping. I extend t* you my very good wishes for a su< cesful and useful tenure of office m your leadership of the party. Kindei; regards.” The impression gained from a with, members of the L'nited Pam* today is one of complete sat isfn ction with the caucus and its result*, l; Mas the best caucus ever held, according to all the members and those ■who before had been disposed to be critical of the Government were among the loudest in their parises. Evidently thu caucus came to the conclusion thaC as the leader had resigned, it might as well start from scratch again and start solidly. There is no fear* of dissension in the ranks at present ani Mr. Forbes will start his tenure e: office as Prime Minister with t mo.~ solid team behind him than Sir Josepa Ward had.

MR. FLETCHER TO COME BACK It is stated that Mr. J. S. Fletch** will come under the banner again and give the partj* his loyal support. Hhimself has said he has never resign?! from the party. The Prime Minister-elect Mas noncommittal on the subject of reorganisation in the Cabinet when this morning and said that lie had nut given serious consideration to tr* question and would not until Sir Joseph Ward had resigned. At present he was still a member of the Ward Cabinet. He said that there were two vacancies in the Cabinet at present, caused by the resignation of Sir Josepi Ward and the appointment of Mr. T. M. Wilford as High Commissioner. CABINET CHANGES Gossip has it that there Mill be some alterations in the Cabinet anti Mr. A. J. Murdoch is a popular choice as one of the new Ministers. The chances of Mr. W. A. Bodkin are regarded as favourable, too, if ther* should be another vacancy to be filled. He may take over Justice if Sir Thomas Sidev gives up that portfolio, although there is Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, another lawyer, to be considered. Aleo another Whip lias to be appointed to place of Mr. G. C. Black, m*lio reKigmd when Hir Joseph AVard resigned, be: the caucus did not decide on tha*. point. It is believed that Mr. Bla:i will not be re-elected. The re-allocation of portfolios is a subject for discussion and no on* seems to have any idea of liom* die? will be ararnged. Mr. Murdoch may sr given Agriculture and Mr. Kansor. Lands, but it is difficult to get to truth in the amount of conjectur* going on. It is stated among members that tb* clianc-es of fusion wtih Reform ar* now remote with Air. Forbes as tfca nen* leader, although there was a distinct possibility of something be;cdone in that direction had Mr. Ransofl been elected. It may not have bees a fusion of the M*hoie Reform Par" but it is believed that some Reformerwould have been willing to thro** & J heir lot with Mr. Ransom. In ti meantime the L'nited Party has take* °w heart ifnd its members are fader he Parliamentary session Mrith mor? confidence than they had a short ticsf ago. _