THE NEW LEADER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10590, 23 March 1912, Page 5

THE NEW LEADER

■» ■■ HON. THOS. MACKENZIE SELECTED BY 22 VOTES TO 9 MR LAURENSON THE OTHER CANDIDATE SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED (By Telegraph —Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

The Liberal caucus, which has been sitting here for two days, concluded .this afternoon. The Hon. T. MacKenzie, Minister.for Agriculture, was selected aB Leader of the Party, defeating Mr G. Laurenson by 22 votes: to 9. THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. After the caucus, Sir Joseph Ward made a statement .to. the Press. He said:— "At the meeting of the Liberal Party -on the first day of-the cauf'us. th»y passed this -resolution,. to wiiah.were attached the signatures of ine whole of the members of the That the members of the Liberal Party -here present thankfully recognise the able, brilliant and successful manner in which Sir Joseph Ward has led the Party since he became Prime Minister, and also his assistance to _ the Party during tho Premierships of Mr Ballanco and Mr Seddon. They express deep 'regret that he . considers it desirable to _ vacate • office, and trust.that he will continue to assist,4he party with his -wise counsel andV,mature experience. Another resolution carried unanimously By the party to-day is:— That this party . unanimously re-affirms the policy indicated in the Governor's Speech of last session. _'.._, ,11 The party/ consideration, took a vote upon, the question, of leadership, and Mr T. Mackenzie was elected by a majority of 22 to 9, Mr ..Laurenson being the member who ob- . tfiined the latter number of votes." Asked whether Mr Millar, whose • naine has been, so .prominently a&so-' ciated- "with the-leadership disoussion,

Iliad come before the caucus in the same manner, Sir Joseph replied that, as a matter of fact, Mr Millar did not go to the vote. He withdrew from nomination. The whole proceedings were carried on with a kindly feeling between members who held different opinions regarding the different candidates suggested for leadl- - "Upon the completion of the first ballot,'' said Sir Joseph, "there was a unanimous expression of goodwill conveyed by Mr MeKenzie on behalf of the whole of the party present. .. I stated that the position, widen had been • a difficult one, was approached from a broad-minded standpoint, and that it was necessary 'for the members of the party, if they wanted; to succeed, to sink any minor differences, and to stand loyally by the new leader. I pointed out that this- position in the matter of the selection of the Cabinet was necessarily a difficult one, and that selfsacrifice from the point of view of individual meanibers wculd require to (be observed in order to ensure the solidarity of the party behind the new Administration when it was formed. I took the opportunity finally of thanking the members of the party there present, as well as members of the old party, for their continued loyalty and support given to me over a long period of years, and I also thanked absent members of the party, who were defeated at the general election, for the kindnesses and assistance they had from time to time extended to me." The Prime Minister, in reply to another question, said: "I hope to be in a position on Monday or Tuesday at the latest to send in my resignation, and allow my successor to take office." Asked as to the position of the Labour members, Sir Joseph said that, v. : ih the exception of Mr Hindmarsh, who was not present, they took part iii all : 'tiKe' ■■ discussions,/ and voted on ' the question of leadership; v : .; 5