THE PRIME MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20651, 25 August 1930, Page 10

THE PRIME MINISTER.

VISIT TO LONDON*

LEAVES TO-MORROW MORNING.

FAREWELL IN AUCKLAND. The Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, will leave Auckland by the Aorangi to-morrow morning for Vancouver, en route to London, to attend the Imperial Conference. Mr. Forbes will reach Auckland by train to-morrow morning. His party will include Mr. F. D. Thomson, permanent head of the Prime Minister's Department and clerk to the Executive Council; Mr. C. A. Bexendsen, secretary of the External Affairs Department and Imperial Affairs Officer; Mr. C. A. Jeffery, chief private secretary to the Prirno Minister, and Dr. C. Craig, Comptroller of Customs. Sir Thomas Sidey, Leader of the Legislative Council, who is accompanying the Prime Minister, arrived from Wellington yesterday with Lady Sidey. Two other ladies, Mrs, Forbes and Mrs, Bercndsen, will travel with the party. Mr. Forbes will bo met at the railway station on the arrival of the limited express at 9.34 a.m. by the deputy-mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, and Mr. F. H. Burbush, chairman of the Auckland executive of the United Party. As there will ba less than one and a-half hours before the Aorangi is timed to sail, Mr. Forbes will be motored straight to the Town Hall, where a room will be placed at his disposal to enable him to transact urgent business. At 10.15 a.m. a civic farewell will bo tendered by the deputy-mayor to Mr. Forbes and Sir Thomas Sidey in the council chamber of the Town Hall. This will bo the first occasion on which Mr. Forbes has been a guest at the Town Ilall in his capacity as Prime Minister. As soon as the brief ceremony is over the party will bo conveyed by motor-car to Prince's Wharf. It is probable that a demonstration, arranged by the local branch of the United Party, will take place at the ship's side just before the Aorangi sails.

MR. FORBES' PORTFOLIOS.

DISTRIBUTION IN ABSENCE. CONFIDENCE IN COLLEAGUES. [by teleceaph.—special reported.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. Following upon Cabinet meetings held at the week-end the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, announced late this evening that during his absence afc the Imperial Conference the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands and deputyleader of the United Party, would act as Prime Minister. Mr. Ransom would also take over from the Prime Minister the portfolios of Finance and External Affairs, and act as the Minister in charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Ihe Hon. <7. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, will take over the portfolio of Customs, and Sir Apirana ,Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, will act as AttorneyGeneral during tlie absence of Sir Thomas Sidey at the Conference.

Mr. Forbes said he regretted leaving New Zealand when tho country was not in such a position as one might wish. He was, however, convinced that there was a spirit of determination throughout the Dominion to face the difficulties with which the. country was beset. He had every confidence in the members of Cabinet, who would conduct tho country's affairs in a satisfactory manner during his absence.

GATHERING- AT WELLINGTON. TARTY LEADERS' GOOD WISHES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. Political differences were forgotten in tho face of tho wider issues of the Imperial Conference when the Priino Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, was accorded a civic farewell at Wellington last evening. Mr. 1' orbes and Mrs. Forbes were both the recipients of presentations. ! In wishing Mr. Forbes success, the Leader of tho Reform Party, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said that at the last Imperial Conference there emerged a declaration that each Dominion should have equal status, and that was something to bo treated with the utmost respect and responsibility. The representative of New Zealand should bo sent away feeling that lie had a free hand, and with confidenco that he, as a true citizen of the country, irrespective of his domestic and political opinions, would truly represent the ideals of the. vast majority of the people. Mr. Forbes took with him tho good wishes and highest hopes from pakeha and Maori alike. Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of tho Labour Party, said ho hoped tho name ot the conferenco would be changed to the British Commonwealth of Nations' Conferenco. When that came about the lofty ideal of peace would bo advanced. Political differences could be sunk in order that the interests of the people might bo more widely considered. Ho wished the representatives well. Tho Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A, Troup, said it was with relief and gratification the public learned that the party leaders were prepared to facilitate the business of Parliament in order that tho Prime Minister could got away. Ho presented Mr. Forbes with an address enclosed in a carved Maori casket, and Mrs. Forbes with a rug "Unity of Empire is tho most important subject," said Mr. Forbes. "O.ne needs very little imagination to seo how fraught it is with great possibilities." They wanted to encourage as much as possible trade between the parts of the Empire. When people grumbled about preference to Britain they should remember that New Zealand's own prosperity depended on Britain. "I know that I can go and speak with one single voice," said Mr. Forbes. "Thero is no difference of opinion. I can go there feeling that New Zealand is one in thought in regard to what should be done in tho Homeland, that its greatest desire is to maintain its connection with tho Homeland and to do everything to assist in her progress and prosperity."