THE PRIME MINISTER

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1930, Page 7

THE PRIME MINISTER

A GOOD-HEALTH ASSET. Good health is his fortunate asse I New /calami has had two quite re I cut periods of anxiety over the hea.lt of Prime Ministers. Political respoi sihilitv is a tremendous physic; strain, which has pulled down man men to premature collapse. So must he counted as a cause for sa isfaction that the new Prime Ministc is “stocky,” well-set in physique, h appearance even to-day bearing or one phase of his early life, when li was prominent- in Rugby football, an on that field won his iirst positio as a loader, captain of a Canterbur representative team. Last sessio ivit.li its long stonewall demonstrate very thoroughly that it will be Junto “wear out’’ the head c-f the Gov eminent by prolonged opposition. A contemporary of Mr Fonbes i the East Christchurch t-ea.m has rt called that ho was a. “nippy” Jial who nlayed in the combination wliic won fc.r tlie club the senior champion ship about the year 1893. Forbes been in a junior team, and get hi first promotion through displaying re solute rush-stopping tactics. Tims were the days of the heavy forward and the strong dribbling .rushes ' b; these stalwarts. Forbes, says his oh 'oMeague, would fling himself int tho l'U'h at the feet of the opposinj "orvvards, and lie on the ball. Them would be a scrum over him, a WO; would go the ball again, and if ill situation was desperate, the futur Prim-* Minister would attain risk thboots of the forwards, and pull up tin langerous rush. There is somethin; of that dogged character to he riotev in Mr Forbes’ handling of Parlia •nontarv situations, whore the move ment sometimes resembles a hare dribbling rush, and needs strong lnr not soectacuhir defensive tactics frou -.he Government. side in resistance. FROM BUSINESS TO FARMING. The Prime Minister did not intent to he a farmer, and it was the accident of a land selection ballot tlial turned him from business into a lam career. ITis father owned a large ironmongery and ship chandlery business in Lyttelton, which he conducted for 50 years. The future Prime Minister was trained to succeed in the business, and as a good preparation was placed in a Christchurch mercantile office for two years. Mr Forbev had returned to his father’s business and had settled down about seven years to a business life when the Cheviot Estate in North Canterbury was compulsorily bought hy the Government, subdivided and thrown open for selection by baVlot. Canterbury was feeling the “land hunger” severely, and this development gave its young men an opening of the most attractive sort.

Tlie Forbes family decided to try for a section, and tlll'eo brothers entered the ballot, the plaii being thftt the larger fcbn number the better the chance. It was the son George who succeeded in drawing a section, and as successful applicants were strictly required to live on their holding, Mr Fortes promptly complied with this condition.' He commenced living on the Cheviot land in a tent, and at that stage had no intention of permanentlv following a land occupation, though his brothers would have taken up that task. The Prime Minister’s father wished to get his son wit// business aptitude back to the work in toAvn, but a few months of country life were too congenial for the winner of the section, and he decided to make his home in Cheviot. Mr Forbes still farms the original section, with an additional area, making a total of 1600 acres. hie now has the assistance of his son, who manages the farm during his fathers frcnuciit absences.

TAKES A H '• V' l \T SHEAFING TIM E,

Mr Forbes takes many opportuniliVs of getting back to tbe country just for a day or a brief week-end, and lie is also there on the big occasions, such as the start of harvesting or the shearing. When the last dip was being shorn, Mr Forbes took a hand, picking up the fleeces as they fell from the shears.

“You don’t often have a 'DeputyPrime Minister picking up fleeces for von!’’ remarked Mr Forbes to one of l,is men. who lias reminded him of this in a telegram of congratulation on. his further rise in the political scale.

Mr Forbes on the platform displays verv accurately his personal characteristics. Heights of eloquence are not attempted, for he makes his points in •\ gooil-tcni.pered % moderate fashion, typical of the average Parliamentary speaker. He is not hard to understand. for lie goes straight -to his objective, though he might gain more force if he were a little quicker in reaching it. As his direct methods disdain smartness or equivocation, lie enjoys popularity cron with those who dislike his opinions. As Loader of the House, he exercises control without display of force, a highly essential quality where the (lovern-

mont has no enforcing majority. His sound knowledge of Parliamentary

urceedure, gained in the hard school of Opposition, is a good equipment • oj- sessional duties. —C. E. \\ HEELER in Auckland “Star.”