THE NEW LEADER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21033, 23 May 1930, Page 10

THE NEW LEADER

ELECTION OF MR FORBES. MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATION m FROM LOG CABIN TO WHITE HOUSE.” (Special io Daily Times!} WELLINGTON, May 22. The news of Mr Forbes’s election , reached other parts of the Dominion in very quick time, and a little more than an hour after the decision by ballot the first two, congratulatory telegrams were handed to him by his private secretary (Mr A. W. Mulligan). This morning and this afternoon telegraph messengers were delivering telegrams in batches of 20 or more every half hour or so, and by lunch time there was a pile of “ wires ” about a foot high from friends and admirers in all parts of the country. The following message was received this morning from the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) at Rotorua:— Mr G. W, Forbes, Wellington.—l was very pleased to hear last night of your selection as successor to me as Leader of the United Patty, and I desire to congratulate yon very, very heartily on your appointment, I have the utmost confidence in your capacity to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the position, and with the loyal co-operation and assistance which will be accorded to you by the members of the party I feel sure the principles and ideals for which the party stands will be in safe keeping. I ex tend to you my very good wishes for a successful and useful tenure of office In your leadership of the party. Kindest regards. ■ (Signed) Joseph Ward. One of the most striking telegrams to hand this morning was from an old friend at Cheviot. It read: “ From log cabin to White House. Hearty congratulations." Mr Forbes explained with a smile of reminiscence that after spending the first night of his arrival at Cheviot under a dray he erected the first lean-to in the district. TRIBUTES BY NEWSPAPERS. “ WILL BEAR HIS HONOURS MODESTLY.” (Special to Daily Times.) - AUCKLAND, May'22. Referring to the appointment of Mr G. W v Forbes as Lender of the United Party, the New Zealand Herald says; *' On the personal there is everything to be said in favour of the choice the United Party has made, Mr Forbes is deservedly acceptable personally in all quarters. He is, of the type that makes many friends, and few, if any, enemies. His reputation before his elevation to Cabinet rank, maintained since that time, has been for plain speaking and plain dealing, ; for straightforward bearing, and for freedom from bitterness and rancour y which so often creeps into the cut and thrnst of party politics. These are qualities which make the elevation to the highest office in the party and in Parlia ment the signal for general congratulations to a man who is certain to bear his honours modestly. All counted, Mr Forbes has not succeeded to any sinecure. Presumably, be has counted all that is involved before accepting the office for which he has been chosen. Mr Forbes can be expected to face his-new destiny > with the cheerfulness and urbanity which have done mnch to win him the personal regard he deservedly enjoys.” Tlic Star says: ”Mr Forbes can bo nnder no illusions as to the difficulties of his task. Ho hah first to reconstruct the Ministry. Though Sir Joseph will remain in the Executive Council and Ministers will continue to benefit by his , advice, he will no longer be Minister of Finance. This will be the most difficult post to fill. Mr Forbes, wo trust, will act courageously in this reconstruction as in all other things. Courage was never more needed in our politics than it is to-day, courage to accept and courage to refuse. Problems press on all sides. If Mr Forbes and hia colleagues face them with courage and progressive minds they will quickly command the confidence of the country. The party must follow its new leader with complete loyalty. It is only a month to the opening of Parliament, when the country will expect from the new Ministry a full declaration of policy, by which it will be judged.”

"AN UNDISTINGUISHED APPRENTICESHIP.” MS FORBES’S DIFFICULT TASK. ( Special tc Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, May 22. The Dominion says this morning editorially : “Mr Forbes personally is to be congratulated on gaining the United Party leadership and the succession to, the Prime Ministership. He has served a long and. undistinguished apprenticeship in politics, and might always have remained in the ruck but for the exceptional political circumstances of the moment. To-day the country wants a directing force, a man of courage and initiative, and although Mr Forbes has good qualities these are not numbered among them. His temperament is not positive, but negative. However Mr Forbes may reconstitute his Ministry it is hard to see where the new talent is to be found to compensate for the loss of Mr Wilford and Sir Joseph Ward s active co-operation. The prospect is then for a' Ministry definitely weaker in ’die House, and in the country stability and confidence are required more than ary other one thing in the body politic, but are hardly likely to be inspired by any team Mr Forbes may be able to get together out of a minority party. Finance is the pivot around which, especially at this time, the whole policy of the new Government should revolve, but in finance the new Ministry is likely to be found least ready and competent. Other problems which the new Government must face at once include unemployment, land settlement, co-ordination of rail and road transport, education policy and railways construction, New Zealand’s representation at the Imperial Conference, and matters, of Imperial policy. Reform, and not United, is the strongest single party to-day. The question for Mr Forbes is whether he is going to look to Mr Coates for. co-operation on national issues, cooperation freely offered 12 and 18 months ag , or whether he will rely on Mr Holland and do his bidding. The answer to that question is one in which the nation is vitally interested.”

FARMERS’ UNION’S CONGRATULATIONS. (Per United Press Association,) WANGANUI, May 22. On the motion of Mr 0. 0. Jackson, chairman of the interprovinclal conference of the Farmers’ Union which commenced to-day, it was decided to telegraph congratulations to Mr Forbes on his elevation to the position of Prime Minister. The chairman said the position was one of which any New Zealand-born man might be proud