CANTERBURY SEATS THE CONTEST IN SELWYN

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 12

CANTERBURY SEATS THE CONTEST IN SELWYN

Predominantly Rural Area MR MCALPINE’S CHANCES ENHANCED [By Our Parliamentary Reporter'] The Selwyn electorate was created in 1946, and for the General Election of that year and in the elections of 1949 and 1951, was a sprawling, mixed electorate containing built-up city areas, State housing blocks, industrial centres, areas where small farms were predominant, and areas where the sheep population far outnumbered humans. At every election, Mr J. K. McAlpine, the National Party candidate, was returned, and his majority increased from 472 in 1946 to' 1836 in 1951.

Boundary changes have made the electorate smaller —14,492 voters compared with 17,169 in 1951—and they have made it predominantly rural, which must enhance Mr McAlpine’s chances of retaining the seat. State housing areas, where Mr McAlphine lost votes to his Labour Party opponents in the past, have gone into the Fendaltbn electorate, and the industrial area of Islington and Hornby into Riccarton.

'Mr McAlpine has held the seat against two strong Labour candidates; first, Mr E. A. Sharp, and then, in 1951, Mr J. G. Barclay, a former member of Parliament. This year he is opposed by a fellow farmer, Mr D. Clinton, although Mr Clinton is a plains weatgrower and Mr McAlpine a high-country man. Mr Clinton is a newcomer to politics. He entered the lists late this year, for Police Sergeant R. W. Hope was the original Labour Party choice for the electorate but withdrew later. In his speeches, Mr Clinton has dealt mainly with farming topics, and has shown no great rancour against the Government, giving credit where he thinks it is due. His acquaintance with the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) goes back to-the days when they went to school together, and they have had business dealings since. Mr McAlpine is a member of Parliament who has not only kept open office to his own constituents, but also, since 1951, has looked after Fdhdalton affairs for the Prime Minister and problems in St. Albans for the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts). Mr McAlpine has been a prominent member of his party in Parliament. and has made a particular study of the traffic and transport laws. He is one of those most likely to gain promotion if the National Party is returned to power. The third candidate in the field is the youngest. Mr T. A. Ward, aged 35, is the Social Credit Political League’s candidate. He is president of the Canterbury branch of the league, and has been an active campaigner over the last few weeks, holding two meetings on most days. Mr Ward is executive officer of the Dominion XRay and Radium Laboratory.