NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1940, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY

CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP POSSIBLE. MR HOLLAND MENTIONED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The question of a change in the leadership of the National Party in Parliament is to be discussed at a caucus of Parliamentary members of the party which is to be held before the resumption of the session on November 26. This leadership question is not by any means a new one, having been discussed on numerous occasions by caucuses of the party as well as by the party organisation itself, particularly since the present Leader, Mi? Hamilton, became a member of the War Cabinet. ' Mr Hamilton has now served four years as Leader of the party in Parliament, and it is well known that heis willing to stand aside should there be any desire for a change. It is generally recognised that Mr Hamilton’s duties as a member of the War Cabinet are a full-time job, and it is! felt in some quarters that if he were relieved of the leadership of the party he would be free to devote all his energies to the prosecution of the war effort. The view has also been expressed by some supporters of the party that it is undesirable in the interests of the party itself for the two. offices to be held by one man, and that occasions may arise when it would be extremely difficult for one to reconcile his duties as Leader of the Opposition with those as a member of the War, Cabinet. The name of Mr Holland, member for Christchurch North, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Mr Hamilton as Leader of the party.