UNITED LEADERSHIP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 146, 20 May 1930, Page 7

UNITED LEADERSHIP.

EARLY ARRIVALS CAUSE COMMENT. RUMOURS OF CONTESTS. (By Telegraph. —Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, May 19. Political speculation over Wednesday’s United Party caucus is apparently more active outside Wellington, which is temporarily deserted by members of Parliament. However, the few in evidence help to stimulate the imagination regarding future prospects. Mr T. W. MacDonald, member for Wairarapa, who visited Rotorua through a strong desire to push forward the sub-division of land in his electorate, was as a result, promptly nominated as a possible Minister of Defence in the reorganised Cabinet, while Mr W. A. Bodkin, member for Otago Central, is also the victim of the prophets. His qualifications for Ministerial office are being canvassed in print, and there has been pointed reference made to his early arrival on the scene. He is certainly busy in Wellington, but his real objective is to interest the Minister of Works in an important extension of the irrigation scheme in Central Otago, which has long been discussed, and which he hopes to bring to fruition after the Minister has made his promised visit to the locality at an early date. Before the portfolios can be allocated, the important decision regarding the leadership has to be made. Sir Joseph AVard’s appointment prior to the general election settled a number of conflicting claims, which prevented the non-Labour elements of tlie old Opposition from forming a completely cohesive body. There is always a danger that the removal of so distinctive and commanding a figure may encourage a revival of this internal conflict, and it is a certainty that if Hon. G. W. Forbes’s nomination is contested in the caucus tho position will be regarded as an open event for a large handful of aspirants, among whom would be Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Works, Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Labour, and Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education. Whoever is selected will need to carry solid support from the Government members, otherwise lie will not be in a position to give assurances to the Governor-General that his Ministry will command the confidence ot Parliament. If general expectations regarding the leadership are not realised at the party gathering, the situation may become even more complex than it appears at the moment. NOT RESIGNING. HON. J. B. DONALD’S DENIAL. AUCKLAND, May 20 Denial has been given to the report that Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Customs, intended to resign from the Ministry. . ~T . Mr Donald left last night for AAeliington to attend the United Party Caucus. He will return to Auckland at the end of the week. Interviewed at Frankton, on the train, Mr Donald said that he was surprised to hear the rumour, current in Wellington, that he intended to resign from the Ministry. He had no intention of doing so. MR C. A. WILKINSON NAMED. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 19. The suggestion that Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont, may become either Minister of Finance or leader of a reorganised Government is being canvassed in some political quarters m Taranaki. „ The idea is favoured by the iaranaki Daily News, which editorially says that “it would require no stretch of imagination to visualise Mr Wilkinson as head of a reorganised Government.” The News doubts if Mr Wilkinson would act in a United Government, and suggests that his vigorous criticisms of both sides of the House justify him for leadership.