RAGLAN SEAT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24768, 8 January 1946, Page 4

RAGLAN SEAT

PREPARATIONS FOR BY-ELECTION

NATIONAL PARITY CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS " The Press ” Special Service

AUCKLAND, January 7. Although the date has yet to be fixed, interest is increasing in the coming by-election for the Raglan seat, which has become vacant through the death of Mr R. Coulter, the Labour member for the district. In’ a field of four candidates at the 1943 General _ Election, the issue developed into a contest between Mr Coulter and the National Party candidate, Mr R. J. Glasgow. Mr Coulter eventually won by the small margin of 108 vote?. Nominations for a candidate tq contest the by-election already have been called by the National Party. Nominations close at 5 p.m. on Friday. The selection of a candidate for the Labour Party is a matter for the national executive of the party in Wellington, after consulting members of the party in the district. It is expected that Mr M. Moohan, president of the national executive, will shortly visit the electorate for this purpose. The possibility that the Democratic Labour Party may also contest the seat is not being overlooked, but when its leader, Mr J. A. Lee, was interviewed he had nothing to sav “It is better to say nothing than to say anything at this stage,” was his remark. However, considering that his candidate at the 1943 election, Mr A. Dillon, polled only 289 votes against 4817 for Mr Coulter and 4709 for Mr Glasgow, the electorate does not seem to offer much hope for his party. A total of 10.126 votes was cast in Raglan at the 1943 General Election, including 797 forces votes. Of these Mr Coulter secured 4817, or 48 per cent, of the valid votes recorded. There were 10.906 electors on the civilian roll, and 1577 did not vote.