ELIGIBLE FOR POLL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30270, 24 October 1963, Page 15

ELIGIBLE FOR POLL

Claims By Labour (N.Z Preu Airn.—Copyright) LONDON. October 23. The Conservatives hit back last night at a sevenpoint Labour claim that Lord Home’s nomination for the Kinross and West Perthshire by-election was invalid, the “Daily Express” reported. After talks and telephone calls between the constituency and London, said the newspaper, they said: “It’s just an election gimmick." The “Daily Express" said constitutional experts at Westminster discounted any chance of Lord Home's nomination being declared invalid.

One said: “All he has to do is hand in a deposit of £l3O and a nomination paper signed by a proposer, a seconder, and eight supporters who live in the constituency and whose names appear on the electoral roll.” The "Evening Standard” yesterday reported the secretary of the Scottish Labour Party. Mr William Marshall, as saying Lord Home's nomination would not be valid. "And I am in line for delivering a technical knockout." Mr Marshall aaid. But he would not disclose the objection he claims to have found to Lord Home's nomination. “That will be done on Monday during the half-hour following the closure of nominations,” he said.

Mr Marshall said: "I was watching Lord Home's television appearance last night when it suddenly dawned on me he was not eligible to be a candidate.” He said there was more to it than that Lord Home, simply by issuing a title disclaimer. would be qualified to be a candidate.

Liberate Doubts The Liberal agent for the constituency, Mr Arthur Purdom. said yesterday: “There is some constitutional doubt about the position of Lord Home, as he Is holding an office of profit under the Crown—the Premiership. "There is some doubt, as well, as to whether, if he has taken the oath of allegiance in the House of Lords, he can renounce this oath without some legal process." However, he said the Liberals would take no action to put obstacles in the way of Lord Home's candidature.

Car Ride For Macmillan

(N.Z.PA.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 23.

Mr Harold Macmillan, the former Prime Minister, is now making such rapid progress after his recent prostate gland operation that his wife. Lady Dorothy Macmillan, plans to take him for a cur ride today.

Mr Macmillan is unlikely to be able to accept Mr Holyoake's invitation to visit New Zealand, his wife said yesterday.