THE NEW PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10751, 23 November 1928, Page 5

THE NEW PREMIER.

ALLEGED VIEAVS .OR SIR, A. T. NGATA FLAT DENIAL TO REPORTED INTERVIEAV VNEVER MADE SUCH A STATEMENT” (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. A copy of a message from Gisborne giving an interview with Sir Apirana Ngata in reference to the Premiership was shown to Sir Apirana on his arrival in AVellington today. He gave a flat contradiction to the message, and said he never made such a statement.

The message to which the above refers was printed in the Poverty Bay Herald yesterday in the form of a special message from Tikitiki that klay, and is as follows :

“The opinion that Sir Joseph AVard’b health would not permit of his carrying out the arduous duties of Prime 31 inis ter was expressed to-day by Sir Apirana Ngata, a member of the United Party who, it is expected, will he included in any new Cabinet which is formed. In Sir Apirana’s view the man who would make the best Liberal Prime Minister was rot now in Parliament. Mr R. Masters, chairman of the United Party and formerly Liberal member for Stratford. Should Sir Joseph AVard decide to take a lighter lmrden upon his shoulders, Sir Apirana, thought it probable that either Mr E. A. Ransom or Mr G. AV. Forbes would he elected to the Premiership. Asked whether ho thought the new Government would continue the Taupo railway project after the allegations which United Party members had made against it, Sir Apirana • replied that in his opinion the work would be pushed on. Under scientific treatment the Taupo pumice lauds Jiad a great future. He had seen the poorest land redeemed and converted into green pastures, and he was confident that property in the Taupo area would he a good investment. “Mr 11. AV. Urn’s defeat at the elections was regretted bv the Eastern Maori member, despite the fact that his sent had been captured bv a United Party candidate. Mr Uru. he said, had been a useful member, find his defeat was attributable to vote-splitting.”

SOUTHERN MAORI SEAT

UNITED CANDIDATE’S SUCCESS

ELECTED ON RETURNING OFFICER’S CASTING VOTE.

Prna * Association.) . CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 22. The Returning Officer had to give his, casting vote in the Southern Maori election when the official count of Votes was concluded to-da.y. By the preliminary count on the day of tho election, Tniti Makitanara was shown as leading- E. T. Tirikatene by one vote. At the official count today they were shown to have exactly the same numltcr of votes. Tho Returning Officer gave his casting vote lor Tniti' Makitanara, the United candidate, who is therefore elected. The officials figures are;

Tuiti Makitanara (U) 199 E. Tt Tirikatene (Ralanaitc)... 198 M. AV; Uru (R) 103 J C. Tikao (Ri) 107 I'. H. MacDonald (L) 79 AV. T. Pitama (Ind.J . 42 T. M. Erihana (Ind.) 33 'Total votes polled 821

Lyttelton.—McCombs (L) - r>o22, Boanlnnd (R) 3036, Lester (IT) ,2/31. majority for McCombs 1986. i AUCKLAND EAST UNITED’S NARROW MAJORITY Donald (U.) 4254 Lea (L.) '. 4217 Mrs Maguire (R.) ... 2274Majority for Donald, 37.