THE ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19388, 14 August 1928, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS.

AUCKLAND SUBURBS.

VOTE-SPLITTING AVOIDED.

[THE PRESS Special Bervict,]

AUCKLAND, August 13. The danger of vote-splitting in the Reform Party's effort to win the Auckland Suburbs" seat at the General Eleotion has been avoided by the selection of Sir James Gunson as the official candidate and the withdrawal of three other aspirants for the Party nomination from the contest. In addition to Sir James Gunson the candidates offering were David B. Russell, Marshall Laing, aiid B. Bunn. The four candidates met the Prime Minister during his visit to Auckland and handed him the following memorandum:

"We, the candidates offering for the Reform interests in the Auckland Suburbs Seat, realising that the interests of Party must be deemed paramount and that the seat cannot be won for the Party with continued division, to-day met tne Prime Minister, following which it was agreed to take a decision by ballot among us for the selection of one of our number. The ballot resulted in the selection of Sir James Gunson. We all hereby agree to extend all possible sunjport to the selected candidate of the Tarty whose name has now been submitted to the Prime Minister."

; The Prime Minister acceded to the request and confirmed the candidature bf Sir James Gunson. Mr Ooates congratulated the candidates on meeting in conference and agreeing to settle their differences in such an Honourable and reasonable manner. It was striking and refreshing to see such Party loyalty, and he hoped it would be an object-lesson to others who might think of being insistent and so throw the election campaign from the Party view into chaos by vote-splitting. Asked whether any progress had been made in . thinning tne field at Roskill, where three aspirants for the Reform nomination have been announced, the Prime MittistersaicJ there was nothing to report.