THE TAURANGA SEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 6

THE TAURANGA SEAT.

SIR J. G. WARD ASKED TO STAND. FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION" PROMISED. MR. MacMILLAN FOR REFORM. (By Telegraph.—Special to --Star. , ) TAURANGA. this day. A.t Te Aroha last evening the political situation so far as Tauranga electoratt' is concerned was considerably cleared at a meeting of the Reform party and supporters held in the evening." at which representatives of all parts of the electorate were present. It was unanimously decided that Mr. C. K. Ma.-Millnn, of tauranga. be the official Reform candidate lit the forthcoming i>v-election. It is understood that the ciaims of other suggested candidates were not pressed, and cordial support was promised from all quarters to work for the return of Mr. MacMillan. ■Sir Joseph Ward, who was also at Te Aroha. in replying to a representative deputation of Liberals from various parts of the electorate that he should contest the by-election, said that if there was a general desire, as seemed evident, from the whole of the electorate that he should stand lie would be pleased once again to place his services at the disposal of the electors and the people of the Dominion generally. He felt fully restored to health, and keenly appreciated the very apparent widespread feeling that he should reenter the political arena at this critical stage in the affairs of the Dominion. Sir Joseph was assured that the feeling wiis general throughout the electorate that he should stand, and he stated definitely that if the same urgent requests were made from districts not represented at the meeting he would contest the election. It is understood Sir Joseph returns to Wellington today, and will immediately return and commence his campaign. Great unanimity prevailed, and Kir' Joseph was assured that so far as the claims of any residents in the district to represent* the Liberal party was concerned, they would be subordinated to the paramount claims of Sir Joseph to the support of that party.

ANOTHER REFORM CANDIDATE. Mr. R. J. Eames. who contested the Napier seat 20 years ago. and who now resides in this constituency, states that he intends to stand as an Independent Reform candidate for the Tauranga seat.

LABOUR TO BE REPRESENTED. The Labour party intends to contest the Tauranga seat rendered vacant by the death of Sir William Herries. Mr. \V. Parry, member for Auckland Central, is at present in the electorate, and Mr. J. I Vurtell will leave for Tauranga on Thursday to carry out preliminary organI isatiop work and will address the men ' employed upon the railway construction I works" there. Nominations for Labour I candidates will be aceepced from Auckj land and the Tauransra electorate, but those nominated must have been a member of the Labour party for the last six months. Efforts are to be mad° to obtain a resident of the district to represent the party, but failing that the AuckI land Representation Committee will find a candidate. MR. WILFORD INTERVIEWED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WAN'GANUI, this day. Questioned further to-day regarding the Taurangn seat, Mr. Wilford stated -he was in touch with the Liberal - i Labour Federation of Auckland, which functions in seventeen northern con- ' stituencifs, including Tauranga. which j district has its own reprecentative on the executive. A member of the execui tive was now in Tauranga in conneci tion with the selection of a candidate. I It is probable that the Liberal-Labour I speakers in the forthcoming contest will be Messrs. Wilford, Veitch. Masters ! and Forbes. I