DEPUTY TO MR NASH

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29842, 7 June 1962, Page 12

DEPUTY TO MR NASH

Selection May Be Made Today

(Krom Our Ous Reporter) WELLINGTON. June 6. The Labour Party caucus, which met today, will vote tomorrow morning to choose the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Although the Labour caucus technically confirms the position the appointment is a personal one and Mr Nash’s recommendation is likely to be accepted by caucus. Most Labour sources would like to see Mr A. H. Nordmeyer confirmed as deputy leader as he is highly regarded in the party as a clear thinker who has most issues in sharp perspective, but he is not likely to be Mr Nash's first choice.

First among the other candidates is Mr F; Hackett, who also has a long ministerial record. Some sources believe he has been chosen as a •‘middle-of-the-road" candidate who would be acceptable to the majority. Mr H. Watt, formerly Minister of Works, and Mr M. Moohan formerly Post-master-General. are both still in the running but neither of these, it is believed, would command sufficient votes without the firm endorsement of Mr Nash. Under other circumstances, a younger man may well have been considered for the position and it is. perhaps, significant that Mr N. E. Kirk. M.P. for Lyttelton, who proved most effective last year, is at present on a sponsored tour of the United States.