FOUR CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED.

MR H. F. JOHNSTON REFORM

CANDIDATE.

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING

DATE OF ELECTION FIXED

The meeting of Reform supporters at Petone on Saturday night was enthusiastic and representative. Mr H. E. Leighton presided. The Leader of the Opposition (Bight Hon. J. G. Coates) was present and was accorded a rousing reception. He explained that the object of the gathering was to select a candidate to contest the Hutt seat, rendered vacant by the appointment of Mr Wilford as High Commissioner. Mr Coates said that the party was indeed fortunate in having two men coming forward of such vigour and initiative as Mr Johnston and Mr Jacobson ready and willing to serve the people of the Hutt electorate.

•A resolution indicating the unanimous determination of the meeting to use every endeavour towards assisting whichever nominee was selected as candidate was recorded. The two nominees then addressed the meeting both emphasising the necessity for co-ordinated effort and their preparedness to leave the final selection to the meeting, while .each pledged the other to assist, to the fullest -extent, towards the return of the selected candidate. The ballot resulted in the selection...of Mr Johnston. The result was received enthusiastically, the meeting again pledging its wholehearted support.

Committees representing various parts of the electorate were immediately arranged for. Mr Jacobson was elected chairman of Mr Johnston's election, committee, and Mr D. M. Robertson will assist the organisation.

Upon Mr Johnston's name being submitted to the party leader as candidate for the Hutt seat; Mr Coates expressed pleasure in confirming Mr Johnston's nomination as the official Reform candidate and remarked that he believed the people of New Zealand would be pleased to know that a man of such undoubted ability as Mr Johnston was to contest 'the seat in the Reform interests.

Mr Johnston, who was born in Wellington in 1875 is the fourth son of the late Sir Charles Johnston, member of Legislative Council, and: at the' time of his death Speaker of the Legislative Council: He received his education at the Wanganui Collegiate School and at the Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated as B.A. in. 1897. He •was a member of Lincoln's Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1897 r and later in the same year he was admitted

as a -barrister aitd solicitor of tlte Supreme Court, of New^ Zealand. MrJohnston served with the Lo-niipit Scottish in the Great War. He was president of they Wellington L»atw Society in 1928 and is now, a member of the eorancil of the society. He is also a member, of the Advisory Committee, to the T. Cr. Macarthy Board of GoveraoT»> There are now four candidates contesting the seat, as follow: — James Kerr .... ........... IXnited Harold F. Johnston .. • Eef orm Walter Nash a.-....... * Labour H. D Bennett Independent

On Monday, the High Commissiaaerelect (Hon. TV M. Watford) tendered to 4he Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. Sir Charles Statham) his resignation as member for Hutt, and this will be gazetted on Thursday next. Mr Wilfoxd will,, however, retain the portfolios of Defense and Justice until December 7, when, he will leave for England tq take up his new duties*.

Already the machinery of the Chief | Electoral Office is ia operation, for the by-election. A special supplementary roll is being compiled and this will close at G p.m. on, Monday next,, aftei tha issue of the writ. It will be made available fox public information a few days ' later.. Persons qualified to vote by twelve months' residence in the Dominion and three months' residence in; rthe district should make immediate application to. have their names included in tha supplementary rollj. electors .of the district who were on the roll and voted at the general election in November last have no. need to make fresh application for registration. Mr F. B. Jameson has been appointed returning officer f ox the- contest and the list of polling: places" which is now being prepared, will be. gazetted next week. The number of registered electors for the Hutt at the last general election was 14,898 of whom' 13,549 exercised the ' franchise. Present indications are that the voting- strength: fer tine- Tby-e-leetion will be greater than was the ease in November. Between the general election and October 31 last, 717 new applications for registration -were recorded, 583 removals were effected and ' 668 changes of address within the electorates were notified. As.at October 31 the voting strength was 15,032 as against the 14,898 for the general election. The total will be increased by the additional registrations that are coming to hand.

The absentee voting system at the byeleetion will be the same as was in operation for the general election, except that absentee voters will record their votes at post offices. Electors who will be absent from the district on elec» tion day and who wish to vote must apply to a postmaster, who will be supplied with the necessary forms. It is announced by the Electoral Office that those electors who will, be in Wellington on December 18 and will not be returning to their" homes before the poll closes at 7 p.m. will be treated as absentee voters nad allowed to vote before any postmaster in Wellington.

The postal voting system is available to those who, on polling day, will be absent from New Zealand, who will not be "within five miles of a booth during polling hours, or will be travelling un--der conditions precluding attendance; who are prevented by age or illness, including maternity, from attending; or who are connected with lighthouse-keep-ing work. Postal vote, certificates and postal ballot papers will be available after Monday next. :

For the Hutt electorates, December 18 will be a statutory half-holiday from noon and all hotels in the district will close from that hour.