LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 March 1926, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

LEADERSHIP TO BE VACANT. WHO WILL FILL THE POST? The- term of seven years, for which Sir Francis Bell was appointed to the Legislative Council, will expire in May, and it is expected that he will be reappointed by the Government for a further period. Sir Francis has already been a member of the Legislative Council for two terms of seven years, having been appointed to the leadership of the chamber by the late Mr. Massey in 1912. He has been Leader of the Council ever since the commencement of the Massey Administration. In a fortnight Sir Francis will embark for England, en route to Europe, where he will 'represent New Zealand at the Assembly of the League of Naat Geneva, followed in October by the meeting of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the league. Quickening interest will be aroused shortly in the announcement as to who is to succeed Sir Francis as Leader of the Legislative Council. The name of Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, who recently resigned the portfolio of Defence and the Commissionership of State Forests, principally on account of health reasons, and who is still a member of the Executive Council, is being freely mentioned as a probable successor. The Hon. Vernon Reed, who has been a member of the Council since June, 1924, is also mentioned as the possible loader.