THE NEW PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 124, 28 May 1925, Page 10

THE NEW PREMIER.

A UNANIMOUS DECISION. ISSUE N3VER IN DOUBT. ; FUSION DISCUSSED. A TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT. (Br Telegraph — I'ri-ss A«ao.'!n!io!I I WELLINGTON', this day. The Reform canons fnr the purpose of electing a leader was held in t lie whip?' room, which was well guarded ngninst intrusion of strangers oven into its approaches. The gathering commenced at 2.30 p.m., almost tlie last member to arrive being: the Hon. J. (;. Coatee, the future leader. All but one of the members of the party attended, as veil as the three supporting Independents, Messrs. Bell. Isitt and Witty. The absentee was Mr. \Y. I). J.ysnar (Uieliornel, who continued his activities before the meat commission of inquiry in another part of the building. Messrs. Tsitt and Witty left the caucus at an early stage. ' The leadership, though judged beforehand to be clearly intended for Mr. Coates. was not settled post haste. It is reported that voting papers ■were circulated, designed to show exactly who was favoured and to what extent. The issue was never in doubt, but the early disclosure of overwhelming support for Mr." Coates was a pleasant factor in tho new leader's favour. The formal decision was not reached till ntarly 4 o'clock and was marked with cheering. Subsequently Sir Francis Bell invited pressmen to see him in liia room i ear the caucus meeting place, when ho made the announcement of the decision arrived at. This, however, was not the end of the gathering. The members Isad half an hour in convivial mood, the monitors cloared away, the guanl was set. ard proceedings were resumed. They lid iut end t,:i just ei'tcr Fix o'clock.