ALL EYES ARE ON NOVEMBER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 5

ALL EYES ARE ON NOVEMBER.

DULL SESSION TURNS MEMBERS’ THOUGHTS TO COMING ELECTIONS. (Special to the “ Star. ) WELLINGTON, Avgust 20. 'I he most keen of parliamentarians will admit that this session has been particularly dull. Political feeling is rising, but has not developed to actual fighting pitch, though the contest of November seems never far from members’ minds. This is particularly noticeable in their week-end habits, at least one-third of the members finding it convenient to.re-visit their constituencies during the gap in sitting days from Friday till Tuesday. It provides a tribute, not only to the fact that politics are livelier in the country than in Parliament, but also that travelling facilities have immensely improved. Much jocular conjecture has taken place in the House of Representatives over the plans of the United Political Party. Its representatives in the House have been obliged to exercise great restraint, because they tacitly admit that their programme and their leader have yet to be arranged. The party is proceeding on unique lines, which may turn out to be effective. Candidates are being approached with some success, the line taken by the party's organisers enabling these aspirants to feel that they will have an important share in framing the actual constitution and plans of the organisation. They are being told that when sufficient candidates have been arranged there will be a conference of these gentlemen with the parliamentary representatives of the party, and that until this happens the programme and leadership are in abeyance. At this conference the candidates will have the privilege of selecting their own leader, also of affirming their fighting platform.' FOUR POSSIBLE LEADERS. If the leadership was subjeqt only to the vote of the parliamentary members of the party the matter could be dia cussed to-day with definite ideas, but the introduction of a large number o! fresh minds makes the position thoroughly open. Apparently Mr Forbes, leader of the Nationalists, la quite prepared to take his chance with other candidates, while Mr Veitch, member for 'Wanganui, has been extremely active in the party's platform work and organisation. The ambitions of Mr Wiiford, who has returned from his English trip in much improved health, are not known, and it is suggested that Sir Joseph Ward may return to New Zealand in time to receive consideration if he desires to be associated with the reorganised Opposition, though prior to his departure it was an open secret that he had no such inclination. Reform supporters wall hold a general conference in Wellington at an early date to complete campaign preliminaries. Whatever is said humorously in Parliavnent regarding the United Party it at least provides the Opposition outside Labour with a better organisation than has been the case for several elections, and suggests the prospect of a very keen contest on election day, making it an open question which party in the next Parliament will be entitled to call itself the official Opposition. UNITED PARTY LEADER. (United Frees Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. > OTTAWA. August 19. A message from Winnipeg states that Sir Joseph Ward intimated in an interview on Sunday that he had been asked by a cable sent at the instance of fifty candidates of the United Party, to become their leader. He declined to say whether he would accept or not. He would not discuss the political situation in New Zealand.—Australian Press Association —United Service.