EULOGIES CHECKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 5

EULOGIES CHECKED.

REFORM SUPPORTERS UPSET. SELECTION OF CANDIDATE. "I DON'T KNOW THE MAN*." (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRTSTCHUKCH. this day. t_*sin< T 1110 won!?. "I don t know the mail !" C Mr. I). Mulh<-llaiid sounded a discordant note in ihe symphony of praise played by the Reform electors of Kaiapoi to Mr. L. B. Evans on Saturday. >1 r. Evans was a-ked by a deputation of ten prominent Reformers to contest the Kaiapoi seat, and five speakers bad loudly sounded the praises of the prospective candidate, especially his business acumen, his public serv ice and his upright and compelling character. Then Mr. Mulholland spoke. His fir-t words- chiiied his hearers. Instead of advocating i! t immediate declaration of Mr. Evans as the Reform candidate. Mr. Mulholland advised caution. There was. he said, a lar<re tract of land south of the Waimakariri that had recently been brouuht into the electorate. Mr. Evans was not known there. He knew Mr. Evans' father, but as for Mr. Evans himself he did not know the man. If a better candidate could be found (and Mr. Mulholland sc»med to suggest that I this was not impossible"i, that candidate should be selected.

Mr. Mulholland's speech cast, a gloom of doubt over the proceeding?, and it was finally agreed to wait a week to allow Mr. Evans an opportunity of introducing him.-elf to the "doubting Thoma>«-s" in Mr. Mulholland's part of the electorate.