EARLY RESIGNATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 280, 29 November 1935, Page 7

EARLY RESIGNATION

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CABINET TO MEET ON SATURDAY “NO REASON TO DELAY”] [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. The Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, stated to-day that he had called a meeting of Cabinet for Saturday morning to discuss tho political situation. It was prob, able, he added, that following tho meeting he would hand his resignation and the resignations of his colleagues to the GovernorGeneral and recommend that His Excellency send for Mr. Savage.” ‘‘The referee has given'his decision,” said Mr. Forbes, “and it is crystal clear that there is no reason why the Government should delay its resignation. There is no need to await the completion of the official recounts. The decision is definite enough.” Mr. Forbes cheerfully discussed the result of the election and remarked that he would now bo able to “get a little sunshine.” It had to be admitted, he said, that there was a definite swing away from the Government and towards Labour, which had a right to give effect to the policy to which the majority of the electors had subscribed. The Minister of Finance, Hon.' J. G. Coates, who is co-Leader of< the Nationalist Party, will arrive at .Wellington on Saturday morning. Several Ministers will reach the capital on Friday, and all will be here on Saturday for the meet-: ing of Cabinet. A full meeting of the Labour ' members will take place in Wellington on Monday, and the selection of members of the first Lab-' our Ministry will be made at the meeting. In the event of Mr. Forbes handing in his resignation on Saturday afternoon, it is likely that the members of the new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday The constitutional position is that when a definite decision is given by the electors, there is no necessity to call Hie new Parliament together in order to decide on the new Government. That is only necessary when the leader of the party is unable to give the Governor-General an assurance that he commands the support of a majority of the House. Mr. Savage is in the position of being able to assure His Excellency that he has the support of 52 pledged supporters of the Labour Party. It therefore is certain that His Excellency will ask Mr. Savage to form a Ministry. It will be for Mr. Savage to allocate the portfolios in the new Cabinet. There is a suggestion that Mr. Savage may decide to call Parliament, together almost, immediately, but the general view is that it will be February before the members are asked to assemble. The Labour caucus will probably decide when Parliament should meet.