MANUKAU's MEMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 10 July 1928, Page 3

MANUKAU's MEMBER.

FOR EMPIRE CONFERENCE. ONEHUNGA ELECTORS APPROVE. ASSURANCE OF RE-ELECTION. There was a large attendance of electors in the Foresters Theatre, Onehunga, last night, to meet Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., who has been chosen, with three others, to represent New Zealand at the Empire Conference, to be held in Canada. The Mayor, Mr. W. C. Coldicutt, who presided, said it was a compliment to the Manukau electorate that Mr. Jordan should have been selected out of 120 persons to go to Canada, and it certainly was a great credit to Mr. Jordan, and a testimony to his popularity. No doubt the electors would let Mr. Jordan go to Canada, and in doing so, assure him that his affairs would be in good hands during his absence. (Applause). Mr. Jordan raised a hearty laugh when he quoted an M.P. who had said that the people of Manukau would let him go to Canada, but would they let him come back to Parliament? A Voice: Yes, we will. He had called them together, he said, to ask them if it was their wish that he should be one of the representatives to the Empire Conference—three from the House of Representatives, and one from the Legislative Council. It was not a party matter, and he was not going to represent anybody, but the whole of the Dominion. He felt it to be a great honour to have been chosen for the job, but at the same time he realised his responsibility. He would meet able representatives of all parts of the British Empire, and would have to take his turn with his other colleagues in speaking on behalf of New Zealand at the conference, and at public functions that would be held in their honour. There were two questions to answer: First, ought he to go to Canada, and second, was he competent I I to represent New Zealand with credit to I all concerned? It was for the electors to answer the first question, and if that was in the affirmative he would do his best to answer the second. (Loud applause.) The delegates would leave New Zealand by the Aorangi on July 31, and, as | the tour was mapped outfit would be possible for them to get back again late in October or early in November in time for the general election, which he expected would be held in November. He had it in his mind to visit England when the conference was over, as that would be only like going from Auckland to Sydney as far as distance went. He wanted to 6ee his mother again. If he went to England he would not be back again in time for the election. However, he had every confidence that the electors' of Manukau would continue to look after his interest at election time. The expenses of the delegates would be paid by the Canadian Government from leaving" New Zealand to getting back again. If he could arrange the finances of Mrs. Jordan would travel direct to England and meet him there in October. Mr. Jordan asked the meeting to sav just what they thought about the matter. Mr. Abel Kelsall immediately rose and said: "Go by all means, Mr. Jordan, such an opportunity only happens once." In answer to Mr. H. Jones, j Mr. Jordan said the two questions on the order paper in the House in his name would, he expected, be dealt with next week. An elector asked Mr. Jordan if he thought that in his absence from New Zealand tlie Government would run a candidate in the Reform interest in the Manukau at the next election. Mr. Jordan replied that the GovernI mont had not taken him into its conj fidence. He would leave the matter in the hands of the local supporters of the . Government to deal with, and he was satisfied they would do the right thing. (Loud and prolonged applause.) I The Mayor moved and Mr. H. Jones j seconded the following resolution, which I was adopted with acclamation:— j "That this public meeting of the elecI tors of Manukau express our appreciation of the services of Mr. Jordan as our member. We consider it an honour to the electorate that he is chosen to be one of the representatives to the Empire Parliamentary Conference at Canada and trust that the experience gained will be available in his services to our Dominion for many years." Mr. Jordan will meet the electors at Ellerslie to-night.