EDUCATION MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 253, 26 October 1931, Page 9

EDUCATION MINISTER.

MAY CONTEST EGMONT.

ANSWERING HIS CRITICS.

OPPONENT FOR MR. WILKINSON

(By Reporter.)

day,

An impression is gaining ground in | Parliamentary circle? the. Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, may resign his seat in the Legislative Council tq° contest one pf the Tarapaki seats as an official Cpalitjqn. pandidate. - Since Mr. Masters' assumption of Cabinet rank there ha§ been much criticism of the transference ,> of such an important portfolio as. Education to the Upper House, and it is an open secret that the admission to the Cabinet of the late Leader of the Legislative Council was resented by. a section pf the Uiiited'party. It is now suggested in'the lobbies that tjie election provides M,-: Masted an pppprtunity to silence'his critics by ajlowjng himself to be nominated as' ft .Coalition candi-

' E<miont, at present held by Mr. p. A.t Wilkinson (Independent),.a bitter opponent of the Coalmen, is as a seat likely 'to. be contested by Mr. Masters." One obstacle in the way, however, is',:the appearance jn. the Ijsts oi a Refprin nominee, Mr. F, Gawith, whose candidature was announced some mpntbs ago, PUt j.t js;§ta%4 Jthat-an adjustment cbuldbe made should Mr, Masters decide to stand.