GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 289, 6 September 1928, Page 11

GENERAL ELECTION

REFORM CANDIDATE FOR ROSKILL MISS MELVILLE’S SELECTION By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, September 5. “The majority of the Reform electors of Roskill are dissatisfied with the way and the manner Miss Melville was chosen as the Reform candidate,” said Mr. L. A. Tozer, a prominent supporter of the Reform Party, in the Roskill electorate this morning, in mentioning the fact that there was a great deal of dissension in the electorate, and that further developments could be confidently expected. Originally there were three Reform candidates for Roskill —the Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. E. H. Potter), a member of the Mount Eden Borough Council (Mr. R. McK. Morrison), and Miss Ellen Melville, a member of the Auckland City Council. In order to avoid vote-splitting the Prime Minister appointed the Hon. V. H. Reed, former Liberal member for the Bay of Islands, to come to Auckland and arrange a settlement. It was left entirely to Mr. Reed to choose the Roskill Reform candidate, and his choice was Miss Melville. There was no ballot, but the candidates, it is understood, agreed to accept Mr. Reed’s decision. It was a decision which caused consternation amongst the Roskill Reformers, who, it is said, felt confident that Mr. E. H. Potter would be choseu. Since then the flame of resentment has been growing. The suggestion has been made that Mr. E. H. Potter should come out as an Independent Reform candidate, and it is stated that 6000 Roskill electors are prepared to sign a petition asking Mr. Potter to allow himself to be nominated. Mr. Tozer said this morning that he and a majority of the electors of Roskill looked upon Mr. Potter as a National man who, if elected, would consider the whole of New Zealand and not merely he a sectional representative. “We lookupou Miss Melville in an entirely different light,” continued Mr. Tozer, “and we feel that in choosing her, possibly the Reform Parly are thinking of additional votes outside of Roskill, which her selection might bring to the party. At the present time a big petition is in circulation addressed to the Prime Minister suggesting that a ballot should be taken throughout the electorate with a view to the people making a choice of a candidate. If this is refused, the intention is to call public meetings throughout the electorate to protest against the method of selection adopted by the Reform Party, and to take such steps as are considered necessary iu the best interests oi the district. , , „ When Miss Melville was informed ot the position, she stated that the three candidates were agreeable to the method adopted, and all agreed to abide by the decision of Mr. Reed. “In submitting my name, and agreeing to the conditions of' selection.” said Miss Melville, “I consulted the members of my committee representative of every portion of the electorate, and they approved of my action. Ido not wish nt this juncture to say anything further.” . CANDIDATE FOR WAIRAU. Bv I'. 1.-ata b •“.■••<- \ inn. Blenheim, September 5. Mr. E. F. Healy, a retired farmer and auctioneer, of Blenheim, is announced to-day as candidate for tlie Wairau seat, in tlie Liberal-Labour interests. ,