Branch Insists On Mr Mason’s Choice

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 3

Branch Insists On Mr Mason’s Choice

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 8. The New Lynn branch of the Labour Party has told the national executive in Wellington that it will not support any candidate for the New Lynn seat at the General Election other than the 81-year-old sitting member, Mr H. G. R. Mason.

The branch had gone so far as to state that it will, if Mr Mason desires it, support him as an independent should the

National candidate executive nominate, any other official Labour candidate. Mr Mason has said he wants to stand again and when nominations were called last November, he was the New Lynn branch’s only official nomination for the seat. His selection was unanimous. But the national executive of the party questioned MiMason’s nomination. Officially, the grounds are Mr Mason’s age. However, it is known he has incurred party displeasure because he was the only Auckland Labour member who voted against Mr Kirk’s selection as leader of the Parliamentary party. Originally it was planned that confirmation of the New Lynn candidate would be announced before the party’s annual conference in Wellington in May. Now, because of the dispute, the selection has been put off until after the national conference.

Last month, Mr Kirk came to Auckland and unsuccessfully attempted to heal the breach between the New Lynn branch and the national executive over Mr Mason’s candidature.