LABOUR CANDIDATE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 139, 15 June 1933, Page 13

LABOUR CANDIDATE

MR. A, PARLANE SELECTED

OTHER DOMINATIONS

A by-election to fill the vacancy on •the City Council caused by the deathof Councillor F. Mendowcroft must now be held, and it appears likely that there will lio.no less^than five candidates: — One nominated by tho Civic League and Ratepayers' Association; Mr. A. Parlane, Labour; Messrs. C. F. Lethaby and J. Castle, independents; and Mr. It. 11. Webb, Communist Party. '■ The following , letter has been addressed to the presidents of tho Civic League (Mr. C. D. Morpcth) and the .Ratepayers' Association (Mr. 11. 11. Miller) by Mr. A. Black, secretary of the Labour Representation Committee, setting out Labour's reasons for nominating a,1 candidate:—

"I beg to inform you that at last night's meeting of the Labour Repre: sentation Committee .careful considera-, tion was given to the proposals put before the executive of the organisation on Friday evening last by 'tho 'presidents of the Civic League and Ratepayers' Association. That proposal was that in view of the fact that Mr. R. L. Macalister waa tho highest unsuccessful candidato, the Labour Party should agree not to nominate anyone against him, the object of such arrangement being in the nature of a step nearer to the avoidance of a City Council by-election contest. It ;svas, of course, generally agreed that such an arrangement did not itself necessarily mean that a by-election would ,be obviated as the determination of that matter was not within the power of cither organisation.

"You will recollect that members of the executive of the . Labour Kepresentation Committee made the counterproposal that as Labour was really entitled oh a. proportional basis to seven council seats, according to the votes cast, the Civic League and Batepayers' Association should agree not to nominate anyono against Mr. A. Parian©, .who was the highest unsuccessful Labour candidate,'being only 130 votes behind Mr. JVlacalistcr. Up to the present I have not been informed as to whether tuo Civic League and Ratepayers' Association could sco their way to agree to our proposition. >

"I am instructed .by the Labour Representation. Committee to inform, you that the meeting last evening decided that it could not agree to the proposal that no Labour candidate should bo nominated against Mr. Maealister, and that Mr. A.' Parlane was selected as the party candidate- for the by-election.

"The main reasons for this decision ■were:- — :■ ' '

"(1) That after extensive inquiries the Labour Committee was satisfied that there was no hope of avoiding a by-election, as several other; candidates were certain'to be nominated. . " ;

"(2) That if Labour did not nominate a candidate other organisations would take advantage of tho absence of Labour to raise confused and unreal issues. . ■

"(3) That on the votes cast at the recent municipal elections Labour was entitledon a proportional basis to seven seats, but secured only fiyo scats; the Civic League and Ratepayers' Association -were entitled to si?c seats, but secured seven, and the independents were entitled to two, but three independents were returned. By the present rogretr able vacancy an opportunity is given for representation moro in accordance witli the, declared, wishes and'votes of the ele'e'tbrs.".'._,'.'.",'■"' The' Civic League and the Ratepayers' Association havo not yet announced who is to bo their candidate, but may do so tomorrow.

. Even at this'comparatively Jate. hour ihere- may still t>e surprises, for though the names mentioned abov^e are those of iho most probable candidates,' other names have also beeA mentioned With fairly sound reason. Nominations will close at noon on Saturday.

The supplementary loll'will close, at 5 p.m. today.