LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 10

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

;;; ' Mr Forbes’s Retirement Possible r HON. A. HAMILTON NAMED AS SUCCESSOR [From Our Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, August 19. The possibility of an early change in the leadership of the Opposition was advanced a stage further 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. Broadfcot (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. However, the view is held in certain quarters that Mr Hamilton would make the soundest leader, particularly as he has appealed very widely in, the broadcasts of parliamentary debates. .No decision on the matter is expected before tomorrow, 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.