WILL STAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 171, 22 July 1941, Page 8

WILL STAND

REMUERA SEAT I MR. ENDEAN ADAMANT NATIONAL INDEPENDENT j

His determination to stand as a National Independent candidate, at the next general election, was expressed to-day by Mr. W. P. Endean, j sitting member for Remuera, who j did not submit his name for selection | by ballot as the National party's j official candidate. j "Three months ago Mr. L. K. | Mtmro moved a motion at the ' national conference at Wellington to provide machinery compelling sitting members to go to the ballot," said Mr. Endean. "That motion was rejected. About three months ago, however, a meeting of the party at Wellington, on a motion moved bv Mr. Munro, passed a resolution pro j viding for such machinery. j Allegation Of Bia* I "Three months ago a meeting of 14 I members of the National party at 1 Remuera decided by ton vutes to four to call upon me to submit my name to a ballot. On April 24 of this year, about 100 members of the party | attended the annual meeting at ' Remuera, and I was advised by my ! friends that at bo'h meetings there ! was a bias against me worked up by ; a small group of members, and that jl would not get an impartial consideration if I were to submit to a ballot.

"At the time of holding these 'meetings, the Remuera electorate did not have sufficient numbers of members as required by the rules. I have evidence that recently a canvasser of the National party, canvassing for membership, when asked what was wrong with the sitting member as a candidate, gave the reply 'We do not want him!' Having regard to all the circumstances, I was advised that there was a small group in Remuera dominating the selection and that I would not get the nomination. "1 successfully contested the Parnell seat for the Reform party in 1930, for the Coalition in 1931, for the National party in 1935, and also for the National party in 1938, polling 9605 votes on the last-mentioned occasion, with a majority over Labour of 2881.

"Not Truly Representative" "I do not think that the National party in Remuera, at present, is truly representaitve of the people, nor do I think that the 9605 electors who voted for me in 1938 will, to any great extent, not cast their votes in my favour at the coming general election," added Mr. Endean. "I have advised Mr. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, that I intend to stand at the next election, and that, if the seat is lost, it will be the responsibility of the National party. Mr. Holland and the members of the party in the House are in favour of my candidature. "I have perused the policy of the National party, as expounded by Mr. Holland, and am in agreement with it, and I intend to stand as an Independent National. I served my country in the last war for two years and a half, and in Parliament for the last eleven years, and I have every confidence that a majority of the electors of Remuera will return me to Parliament."