PARNELL SEAT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 12

PARNELL SEAT.

PARTIES PREPARING.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES.

[THE PEESS Special Service.]

AUCKLAND, March 27

The most interesting development in the Pnrnell by-election situation today was the decision of Mr T. Bloodworth to consent to nomination for selection as the official Labour candidate. Already Mr J. W. Yarnall, who carried the Labour banner in Parnell at the last General Election, has announced that he is an aspirant for official endorsement, but the indications are that Mr Bloodworth will be selected. Another' man well known m the local Labour movement, Mr_ E. J. Phelan, was also approached with a view to nomination, but he has declined.

Although for many years prominent m local politics, Mr Bloodworth has only once previously striven to enter the House of Representatives. That occasion was in 1919. when he was the official Labour candidate for Parnell. The voting then was: J. S. Dicksou (Reform) 5706, T. Bloodworth (Labour) 2287, Mrs R. L. Baume (Liberal) 1026.

The Labour Representation Committee met to-night to uiscuss its plan of campaign. It was decided to endorse the recommendation of the executive to call for nominations for candidates from all branches and affiliated Unions. The nominations will close next Monday. Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., Deputy-Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was anoointed organiser of the Labour campaign. Mr Savant stated to-night that the nominations would he forwarded to the National Executive in Wellington to select the official candidate. "Our constitution provides for that being done in 6uch a case," explained Mr Savage. "Time is short, and it would take too long if the usual procedure were followed, by which a ballot *s conducted.'* . . Official secrecy is being maintained regarding the nominations expected, and it is stated that the practice is to announce only the name of the successful nominee. The chairman 6f the United Party Executive, Mr J. Trevethick, said tonight that in all probability the decision as to the official candidate would be arrived at after the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Executive tomorrow.

As arrangements for choosing tho official candidate by a conference of delegates are now under way, the Beform Party activities are being concentrated on organising for the contest. Enquiry at the Party headquarters brought the reply that no further developments regarding candidates had occurred. »

"A great many people want me to stand in any case, and many want me to consent to go to the selection ballot, but I have not made up my mind either way yet," said Mr J. S. Dickson, Reform member for Parnell from 1911 to 1928, when asked to-night to define his attitude. In the event of Mr Dickson allowing his name to go to the ballot, his claims will be considered ifl conjunction with those of Mr A. J. Burrows and Mr H. B. Jenkins. The former has submitted his nomination, and Mr Jenkins has intimated his willingness to be bound by the constitution of the Beform Party. Mr W. C. Hewitt, who stated early in the week that he would stand as a Liberal-Labour candidate, is still absent from the city, so that his present r»lationship with the United Party, under the banner of which he contested Auckland Central seat in 1928, remains to be determined. However, it is believed that Mr Hewitt is firm in his intention to go to the poll on the terms of his original declaration.

MR JENKINS'S RESIGNATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TSLBGEAJI.) DUNEDIN, March 27. The Parnell seat is now vacant. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Charles Statham, tnis afternoon received the resignation of Mr HI. R. Jenkins.