THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 3

THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 11

A loading member of the Opposition party told your representative to-day that there was no immediate prospect of a loader being appointed. One factor making for a brief delay, ho stated, was that Sir Joseph Ward required time for consideration before agreeing to fill the vacant position and to take up its accompanying responsibilities. This, the Oppositionist in question remarked, was strictly reasonable, for anyone taxing up the position when leader of the Opposition would naturally have to be prepared to continue at the head of the party for some time. It was not an office to bo lightly taken up or laid down. So far, the Oppositionist stated in conclusion, there had been no formal meeting of the party to deal with the question of the leadership. Some members of the party had been absent owing to illness and other causes ever since the beginning of the session. There was no doubt, however, that the party would be glad to accept Sir, Joseph Ward as leader, and probably a meeting would bo bold in the near future with a view to arriving at a definite conclusion in the matter.

The member of the Opposition who was interviewed denied that there was any dissension in the party, and said that every member would accept Sir Joseph Ward as leader and accord him loyal support. This does not agree with current lobby talk, which is to the effect that two or three members of the party will not follow’ the member for Awarua.