DOMINION POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18026, 22 May 1930, Page 6

DOMINION POLITICS.

SELECTION OF MR FORBES. SIR J. WARD’S CONGRATULATIONS. CO-OPERATION OF PARTY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The following message was sent by Sir Joseph Ward to Hon. G. W. Forbes: 11 1 was very pleased to hear last night of your selection as successor to me as leader of the United Party and I desire to congratulate you 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 members of the party I feel sure the principles and ideals for which the party stands will be in safe keeping, l extend to you my very good wishes for a successful and useful tenure of office in your leadership of the party.—Kindest regards.” APPEAL FOR COALITION. TO CIRCUMVENT LABOUR. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Evening Post, doubtless with many followers, is advocating a coalition between the Uniteds and the Reformers. “To talk of a general election as a remedy is,” it says, .“absurd. The electors can pass judgment upon a policy, but they cannot invent one, and in the present state of aimless’ drift a General Election is far more likely to make things worse than better, . . The crucial fact is that the Labour Party holds the balance of power, and will continue to hold it, and may even deevlop it into the official subst.. v.e of power, if the United and Reform parties continue to subordinate patriotism and coinuionsense to the shibboleths and ambitions and prejudices that keep them apart. The present crisis makes as clear a call to Mr Forbes and Mr Coates to put the nation above party as the World War made to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward in 1915, and we trust that they will make the same reply." One still may hope that a sane system of election will banish this bogey. , THE WAITOMO SEAT. SELECTING A CANDIDATE. A very largely attended gathering of executive representatives of the New Zealand Political Reform League* was held in the Otorohanga Town Hall. The proceedings, which extended over several hours, were not open to the press, but it was gleaned that the matter of the selection of a candidate for the Waitomo seat was the principal subject discussed. THE REFORM LEAGUE. BRANCH FORMED AT ASHBURTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ASHBURTON, Wednesday. A branch of the Reform League was formed here last evening. Mr W. Oakley was elected president, and Mr R. H. Loy secretary.