THE HON. G. W. FORBES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 10

THE HON. G. W. FORBES

* UNITED MEMBERS' CHOICE

PARTY CONSOLIDATED

The caucus of the United Parly yesterday resulted in the election of the Hon. G. W. Forbes as leader. Mr. Forbes is now Prime Minister-elect. It is expected that Sir Joseph Ward will lender his resignation to the Governor-General without, delay, recommending the newly-appointed leader as his successor, and that His Excellency will forthwith call upon Mr. Forbes to form a Ministry. -The caucus proceedings were more protracted than even the Deputy-Leader had anticipated. After a sitting in the morning and all afternoon, the meeting was adjourned until tho evening, when the balloting stage was reached. The announcement of Mr. Forbes's election was made formally at 9.5 p.m., and an hour and a half more elapsed before t> the caucus broke up, the concluding proceedings being punctuated with "bursts of enthusiastic applause as tribute .vas paid to the new Leader. Some members of the party seemed relieved to have the business concluded, for they had sat in tho Cabinet Koom for nine and a half hours, with intervals for luncheon and dinner. It was freely remarked at tho close of the meeting that all differences of opinion had been well threshed out and composed. HOW DECISION WAS MADE. There were four nominations for the leadership—tho Hons. G. W. Forbes, E. A. Eansom, W. A. Veiteh, and H. A±more. Before the voting took place each was invited to address tho caucus and sketch tho policy ho would pursue as Leader. The decision was then made in two ballots. All four names were put to the test first, and as' Messrs. Atinore aucl Veiteh secured an equal' number of votes for third place, it was agreed to eliminate both. The final issue was then decided as, between Mr. Forbes and Mr. Ransom, and though no announcement was made of the actual voting, it is understood the margin was very narrow. The election was then confirmed unanimously. Mr. Eansom was the first to congratulate Mr. Forbes on his election. The scrutineers were Sir Thomas Sidey, Mr. W. .A. Bodkin (Central Otago), and Mr. G. C. Munns (Eoskill); There appears to be unanimity amongst members of the party that yesterday's meeting was the most successful United caucus that has been he)d. "We have consolidated all sections of the party," was the declaration of one member, who has been regarded as being more or less dissatisfied with some of the Government's actions or in: - actions. Another —a South Island member —said that the whole meeting was conducted in a very earnest and pleasant spirit, and that he had so enjoyed tho proceedings that he would not have .- minded if they had lasted another day. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES. The news of Mr. Forbes's election reached other parts of .the Dominion in very quick time, and a little more than an hour after the decision by ballot the , first two congratulatory telegrams were handed to him by his private secretary (Mr. A.. W. Mulligan). This morning and this afternoon telegraph messengers were delivering telegrams in batches1 of twenty or more every half-hour or so, and by lunch time there was a pile of ''wires" about a foot high from friends and admirers in all parts of the country. . The following message was received this morning from the Prime Minister (Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) at Eotorua: — • "Hon G. W. Forbes, ' : Wellington, — - . ; "I was very pleased to hear last night of your selection as successor to me as Leader of the United Party, and I desire to congratulate you very, very heartily on your appointment. I have the utmost confidence in your capacity to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the position, and with tiio - : loyal co-operation and assistance which will be accorded to you by the members of the party I feel sure the principles and ideals for •which the party stands will be in safe keeping. I extend to you my very good wishes for a successful ' and useful tenure of office in your leadership of the party. Kindest

regards. (Signed) Joseph Ward."

One of the most striking telegrams to hand this morning was from an old friend at Cheviot: "From log cabin to White House; hearty congratulations." Mr. Forbes explained with a smile of reminiscence that after spending the first night of his arrival at Cheviot under a dray he erected the first lean-to in the district. .