GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 May 1930, Page 5

GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE

CONTINUANCE IN POWER INDICATIONS FROM WELLINGTON HON. G. W. FORBES AS LEADER. (By Telegraph —Special to “The Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 10. Mr. J. G. Coates (leader of the Opposition) paid a brief visit to Wellington yesterday and returned north in the evening; with the intention of going straight through Auckland to his home, near Dargaville. He was asked by your correspondent ent to comment on the situation created by Sir Joseph Ward’s resignation, but lie declined, adding: “I am very sorry on personal grounds that Sir Joseph’s health has not improved as we had hoped.” As a supporter of the official Opposition, Mr. ’G I . R. Sykes, member for Masterton, remarked to your correspondent that he had always held Sir Joseph Ward in high appreciation for his personal qualities. Private members always found him kindly and considerate.

“One must .admire the strength of will which struggled against physical odds in an endeavour to keep in active administration,” added Mr. Sykes. “I have always expressed the hope that Sir Joseph Ward would sufficiently recover to again undertake his onerous duties, but now it has become evident that this is impossible. I can say that he has taken the right course in the national interest. ’ ’

GOVERNMENT MEMBER’S VIEW

The chairman of committees of the House of Representatives, Mr. S. G. Smith, member for New Plymouth, (suggested that everyone would regret the circumstances which had obliged the Prime Minister to tender his resignation. There would be equally general agreement that one; who had served his Empire and country so many years and had come back to office as Prime Minister deserved the greatest sympathy when he found that ill-health precluded him from carrying on his important duties. “My feelings towards Sir Joseph Ward have always been those of intense loyalty,” continued Mr. Smith, “for my father had the honour of being closely associated with him during the Ballance-Seddon regime from 189 U till 1907. Sir Joseph W ard lias always been most kindly and considerate to members and has invariably placed the Empire and country before private advantage. ‘ ‘One cannot speak much of - the future until the United Party has had an opportunity of considering the position.” added Mr. Smith, “but I think that in the ranks of the party are men capable of leading, and the 16 months’ Ministerial responsibility has given members of the Cabinet a good grasp of administrative work.

“Personally I hope that it will be possible for Sir Joseph to retain the finance portfolio, owing to his great capacity for dealing with that outstanding problem of the moment. “It is untrue that the Prime Minister’s resignation was suggested by any party meeting,” added Mr. Smith, referring" to rumours current in Wellington. “Some months ago, when the last meeting of the party was. held,, it carried a unanimous resolution of confidence in Sir Joseph as leader, and I personally hope that in the reorganisation which will take place he will find it possible to continue as Minister of Finance.”

FUTURE OE THE GOVERNMENT

Though the resignation of the Prime Minister wilt carry with it the resignation of all his colleagues, the practical requirements of the Constitution recognise the necessity of Ministers holding office until their successors are elected. it appears from the report emanating from Rotorua and corroborated nr party circles in Wellington that the United members of Parliament will be promptly called together to appoint a new leader, and it is taken as a foregone conclusion that their choice will fall on Hon. G. V. Forbes, who has been tire riglit-hand colleague of Sir Joseph W aid. During the latter’s trying period of ill-health Mr. Forbes has been frequently designated Acting Prime Minister, a technical mis-description, for there has been no such appointment by Sir Joseph Ward. However, Mr. Forbes led the House of Representatives during his leader’s indisposition, and it was conceded by all parties that he did iso with coolness, tact and courage. He sat out the long stonewall on the land and income tax measure and secured its passage without sacrificing essential principles. It will be for the members of' the Government Party to filially settle the leadership question, though the retiring Prime Minister has given a very definite lead to them and to-day s development was more or less anticipated in political circles, though it was not expected to eventuate until closer to the session. There lias been a certain amount of discussion of the leadership, and the only other name mentioned was that of Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Public Works). Mr. Ransom lias shown l great vigour and capacity, both in administration and on the platform. He lacks the long experience of the member for Hurunui, but is sure to take I a prominent place in any Cabinet which Mr. Forbes would select. Parliament has been formally prorogued till the first week in June. Though the final notice calling on members to assemble for the despatch of business has not been issued, it seems probable that Sir Joseph Ward’s resignation will not change the programme which is contemplated for the opening session towards the end of June. The no-confidence motion which may be expected, as usual, will be watched with heightened interest, though the present indications are that a reorganised Cabinet under Mr. Forbes’ leadership would survive the 1 test. The Opposition forces are so completely at variance that each regards the minority Government as the lesser of two evils. Labour would fear a Reform administration, while Reform would have at least an equal anxiety if Labour reached the Treasury benches.