NATIONAL LEADER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 5

NATIONAL LEADER

MR FORBES MAY RESIGN.

HON A. HAMILTON MENTIONED.

CONSIDERATION BY CONFERENCE

(Special to the “Guardian.”) ’WELLINGTON, August 19.

Tho possibility of an early change in the' leadership of the Opposition was advanced a stage at a conference of the National Party, which opened in Wellington to-day, and although no definite selection has yet been made, it is rumoured that the position may be offered to the Hon. Adam Hamilton, M.P. for Wallace, and Postmaster-General in the last National Government.

In the search for a new leader, it is stated that the names of Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), one of the Opposition Whips, Mr S. G. Holland (Christchurch North), and Mr J. Hargest (Awarua) have been freely mentioned. Mr W. J. Poison (Stratford) has also been regarded in some quarters as a possible candidate. Howe’ver, the view is held in certain quarters that Mr Hamilton would make the soundest leader, particularly as he has appeared very widely in the broadcasts of Parliamentary debates. No decision on the matter is expected before to-morrow, when the conference of delegates will resume. It is stated that at the wish of the party the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, at present Leader of the Opposition, would be fully prepared to relinquish office, but before anything definite is done, the decisions of the conference will probably be' considered in detail at a caucus of the Parliamentary party.