Selwyn candidate

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 12

Selwyn candidate

Sir, — The method of preselecting the candidates for Selwyn is perhaps of more interest to Selwyn electors than the members of the National Party hierarchy believe. I understand the names of 10 nominees went to the pre-selection com-< mittee. May I ask why the names of these people have not been made known to Selwyn electors? Is the preselection committee made up solely of Se. Aryn residents? If not would you please inform me of their position within the party. Answers to these questions may satisfy Selwyn electors they have the best available representative. — Yours, etc., HELEN B. COOP. December 19, 1980

(Mr W. A. Johnston, chairman, Selwyn electorate, National Party, replie's: “The socalled National Party ‘hierarchy’ went to considerable efforts throughout the year in Selwyn to make clear the procedures involved in candidate selection. Your correspondent correctly states that 10 nominees went before the pre.-selection committee. These names are not released by the National Party, which respects their privacy at this stage. There is no restriction whatever on any of these nominees making public their intention to stand, if they so desire. After pre-selection the successful contenders are announced. The pre-selection committee comprises nine members. Five, who were all resident's of Selwyn, were elected at the annual meeting of the electorate in April of this year. The remaining four were Dominion councillors from the Canterbury division — from Fendalton, Rangiora, Lyttelton and Yaldhurst electorates. The Selwyn members on the committee had the majority in its final decision.”)