TRAMWAY ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18220, 3 November 1924, Page 11

TRAMWAY ELECTIONS.

PROBABLE CANDIDATES. CONTEST IX RICCARTON SUBDISTRICT. The. approach of the- dato for the closing of nominations oi candidates for seats on the Tramway Board—the 13th inst.—has resulted in arousing renewed interest in the election. As far as tho number of aspirants for nomination is _ concerned, it is stated that it i.j greater than on any pro•nou* occasion. The keenest contestwill be, probably, for tho five seats lor the Central sub-district., for aJI of which, in addition to the full ticket nominated by the. Citizens' Association, it is expected that the Labour Party will nominate candidates. There will he probably, a triangular contest for the Riccartou sul)-distrirt, the sitting member for which, Mr S. A. Staples, does not intend (o seek re-election. Jii the oilier sub-districts—New Briffhton, Sumner, and Spreydou—there is "ot much talk at present of serious opposition to the sitting members. the three gentlemen—Messrs A. D. iord (.Mayor of Riccarton), J. Wood, and H. (r. LivingvStone—who have been mentioned as likelv candidates for the Riccarton sub-district, attended a meeting of the Citizens' Association's Nominal ion Committee on Friday evening. The Association is anxious that thero should not bo a four-cornered contest, and the efforts of the coinmitteo were directed to an endeavour to reduce the number of candidates. Mr Wood, for reasons giveu, including his disinclination to break faith with his supporters, stated definitely that be intended to go to tho polf. Messrs Ford and Livings. tone placed themselves in the. hands of tho Association, and, after discission,, it was decided to support tho candidature or Mr Livingstone. Mr Ford promising to give all possible assistance to secure his return. The Rev. ("lyric Carr has been mentioned as a likely candidate for the Riccarton sub-district in the Labour interest?.

As regards the'Now-Brighton, and Sumner sub-districts, it is probable that, the Citizens' Association will 'support the candidatures of Mr W. J. Walter and the Hon. John Barr, M.L.C., the titting members. In respect of the Central sub-dis-trict, which was recently enlarged by the inclusion of the Liuwood sub-dis-trict, the Citizens' Association has decided to nominate Messrs Geo. T. Booth. J. A. Flesher, H. Pearee, A. S. Taylor fat present chairman of the Board), and "E. IV. White. With tho exception of Mr White, theso gentlemen aro at present members of the Board. Mr J. W. Beanland, who is at present one of the representatives of the Central sub-Jistrict, has decided not (o teck re-election. Some uncertainty exists as to the intentions of the Labour Party, but it is freely stated that tho Labour Representation Committee propoiscs to concentrate on the Central sub-district and not nominate candidates for the suburban, sub-districts. Some time ago tho L.R.C selected nine- candidates for nomination, but did not, at the time, decide . for which sub-districts they should l)ia nominated. Amongst those selected was Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., who was one of the Now Zealand Parliamentary delegation to South Africa and who is not expected to reach the Dominion in time to sign his,nomination paper.' The others selected were Messrs D. G. Sullivan. M.P., J. McCombs, M.P./ C. Renn, C. Carr, Fl It. Cooke. J. K. Archer. G. T. Owen, and F. M. Robson. It is understood that, tho L.R.C. will meet shortly and decide whether or not all tho scatis are to be contested.