GROUP CANDIDATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1943, Page 8

GROUP CANDIDATES

WILL NOT RETIRE

A TELEGRAM & REPLIES

A last-minute flurry has been caused in the political campaign by a telegram sent by Mr. P. L. Brady "as chairman of the Wellington North branch of the Independent Group" urging Group candidates to retire as they had, he considered, no hope of success and by vote-splitting would help to retain Labour in office. Mr. Brady's status and his telegram have been emphatically repudiated by the Independent Group officials and Messrs. R. Malcolm and Clive Drummond.

The telegram reads as follows: "As chairman of the Wellington North branch of the Independent Group, I have concluded that the one certain result of the candidature of many Independent Group representatives next Saturday may be, to cause vote-split-ting and thus keep the present Government in office. It appears to me that many Independent Group candidates have no hope of success and can only confuse the issue in electors'. minds. Moreover, I believe that the doubts which some people entertained about the policy of the National Party and Mr. Holland's leadership have been completely dispelled by his broadcasts and his address here last night. It is felt that the policy of the National Party is a progressive one, and that under Mr. Holland there will be a proper measure of freedom of judgment for National members.

"To save the people of our Dominion from further infiltration on our individual and national freedom, I suggest that with due sense of responsibility, considering the vital issues at stake for New1 Zealand and knowing that you have the welfare of your country at heart, you should follow the fine example of Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, Independent Group candidate, who has withdrawn from the contest at Riccarton, and withdraw."