LABOUR'S CHOICE.

LYTTELTON CONTEST. MR. TERENCE H. McCOMBS. | SON OF FORMER, MEMBERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CIIRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Following the announcement in tonight's "Gazette" of the vacancy in the representation of the Lyttelton electorate in Parliament, caused by the death of Mrs. E. R. McCombs, the national executive of the Labour party announced that, acting on the recommendation of its affiliations and supporters in the electorate, it had unanimously decided to nominate Mr. T. H. McCombs as the candidate to contest the by-election on behalf of the party. The party's organiser, Mr. P, Langstone, M.P., said he believed that the supporters of the Labour party in the Lyttelton electorate would be only too anxious to see the seat retained in the McCombs family, which had held it since 1913.

Mr. James Thorn, national secretary of the Labour party, whose name has been mentioned in connection with the election, says that he has already been nominated for the Thames seat, and that Mr. McCombs, who was unanimously selected by members of the national executive of the party, has distinctive qualifications that would be very helpful to the Dominion if he were elected to Piirliament. It is anticipated that the election will bo held either on Wednesday, July 24, or on the following Wednesday, July 31. The leaders of the Labour party will take a prominent part in the campaign, which will be opened on July 2. Mr. T. 11. McCombs is the son of the late Mr. James McCombs, who was member for Lyttelton for 18 years, and of the late Mrs. E. R. McCombs, who was member for two years. He has had a brilliant scholastic career. Hβ was born in Christchurch in 1904 and was educated at the Christchurch Boys' High School, the Waitaki Boys' High School, and Canterbury College. He won the Charles Cook memorial research scholarship in 1928, graduated master of science with honours in chemistry in 1929, and won a national research scholarship in 192930. Mr. McCombs has held a number of ■teaching appointments, and for a fairly lengthy period he has been connected with forestry work. He has also taken a prominent part in sport, gaining University Blues in hockey and rowing. For some time he has been a member of the staff of the "Seddon Memorial Technical College in Auckland.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. MR. McCOMBS' CANDIDATURE. Mr. McCombs lias been a member of the Labour Party for eight years. He is a married man and took up an appointment with the Seddon Memorial Technical College early this year, teaching scientific, commercial and general subjects. He will leave for Christchurch early next week, having been granted several weeks' leave of absence. This course was agreed upon after the chairman of the College Board, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, had conferred with the Education Department in Wellington. WAIRATJ ELECTORATE. PROBABLE CANDIDATES. (By Telegraph.—l>ress Association.) BLENHEIM, this day The National Executive of the Labour Tarty has officially approved of the nomination of Mr. Edwin Purcell Meachen as Labour candidate for the Wairau scat at the general election. Mr. Meachen confuted the seat against Mr. E. F. Healy at the last election. Other candidates are expedited to Include Messrs. Healy (Government), J. Anderson Rcilly, of Seddon (Independent) and Mark W." Grace, of Nelson (Independent) and possibly Mr. W. J. Girling, former Reform member.