“...A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 10

“...A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW”

THE most appropriate refrain with which to mark the closing of the long United Party caucus yesterday is “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” for, on that cheery note of personal goodwill, the Hon. G. W. Forbes was hoisted to party leadership and the Prime Minister’s vacant chair. After 22 years of service in the House of Representatives the member for Hurunui lias received his reward and, if he finds that the United crown maketh an uneasy head, at least he has the consolation that dhoice fruits of civil office can provide. It will not be Mr. Forbes’s first experience as a political leader. For a time he led that strange, wandering band, the Nationalists, thereby gaining in reputation for straightforward ruggedness, but rather failing to make any deep impression among the people. As he is a man of fixed political character, his position and possibilities as Prime Minister may be gauged fairly accurately from these previous signs and exploits. Party followers and critics alike can expect little in the way of brisk progressive leadership, and still less of political brilliance, but he should prove a stolid and reasonably safe party keystone—probably the best man United can produce for the unenviable job of keeping the whole, poorly-based structure intact. It remains to be seen whether the common sense of which Mr. Forbes has more than the ordinary share will enable him, in the exigencies of the present and forthcoming position, to subdue the special demands of the Labour Party which are its price for keeping a minority Government in office. This will be the most difficult test of his ability as a leader and his skill as a party diplomat. While it would be quite unwarranted to expect great things from Mr. Forbes in his new, executive capacity, there is real sincerity among party members in knowing and greeting him as “Honest George.” This pleasant sobriquet he has earned through the exercise of a certain frankness and firmness in his political dealings, but he will need all the loyalty that is available in his own party, and all the sympathy that can be spared outside it in the time that is to come, for it is abundantly clear that the worst troubles of Uniteds have yet to appear. It is not worth speculating about the pending reshuffle of portfolios. There is ample scope for many changes, and but little possibility of improvement for, no matter how the Ministry may be varied, the character of the administration is bound to remain substantially the same. It is one of those fortunately rare political cases in which, if the entire party were given executive office, the whole would he no stronger than the half. Mr. Forbes, as a jolly good fellow, will do his best, and it remains for electors to face the future with what optimism they can summon.