OPPONENT’S GOOD WISHES

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1929, Page 9

OPPONENT’S GOOD WISHES

PREMIER CONGRATULATED. SOUTHLAND MEMBER’S TRIBUTE. By Telegraph—Press Association • Wellington, Last Night. (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) It is not often that a Prime Minister is congratulated from the Opposition benches on assuming office, but in the House of Representatives to-day Mr. A. Hamilton (Wallace) offered felicitations to Sir Joseph Ward. “I congratulate the Prime Minister on being placed back in that honourable position,” said Mr. Hamilton. “Not many have the unique record of being returned to power after being in Opposition or being out of Parliament. The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on his return to power and we wish him well in his high office, (Hear! Hear!). We hope that whatever the fortunes of political life may be ho will enjoy his experience and that it will be for the good of the country. “I am quite sure that I am in accord with the honourable member for the Southern Maori seat when he says that when the United Party chose Sir Joseph Ward as leader that that was number one. I believe it was number one, and I believe that that was the birth of the United Party. I congratulate him (Sir Joseph) on the choice and on his return to power. None of us are so small-mind-ed that we wish to usurp all the good things of office, and we wish the present Government a pleasant time while they are there. It may be short, we do not know, but however long they are there we hope that they will enjoy it.” (Hear! Hear!),