THE HAWKE’S BAY SEAT

Evening Star, Issue 16351, 17 February 1917, Page 6

THE HAWKE’S BAY SEAT

l Pes United Press Association.]

li.->.SllNws, rf-crvtarv 17 > 13dween of) and-60 members of t.hc Hastings branch ot the Libera! .League attended a meeting lost- night for the pmno.se of ch-d----mg delegates to attend a convention of dole, gates from other parts 0 f the districts, on Monday night, when a candidate. I'cr theHawke a Bay scat, will be selected. Delegates were appointed, and the meeting, by a huge tmjonty, i;istruat r -d ihem to support the cr.ndidnt-arc of Mr 11. Lan Sinuon. The other names snlmnitcd were ihoso of ,*ir •John Findlay and Mr I lapham. ff Mr Smison is nominated by the convention on Monday there will be other Liberal cindidatos contesting the election. Mr A. 1,. I). Fraser st..fcs that Ins intention is to oppose i in* and Mr A. E. dull will he asked by a deputation of Hastings citizens on Monday night to consent- to nomination. The inte.ution'nf the local Reform party has not vet been made public. Si,- John Findlay will ’remain hero over tho week-end. V. I. LI. I,s( I i ()X, .February 17. The wiit for the- Hawkes Buy election was issued to-day. The election is fixed for the 8!h of March, and the writ is rcnr.nable on '.he 17 ill.

SIR JOHN FINDLAY WITHDRAWS.

HAM’ItVGS. Fcbnis-rr 17. . u .joliii Fmdlay made the foilowii.g statemcni to the •Tribune' this morning:—- I tomid on arrival at. Hastings that the strong ( ions made to me regar.limj ■j -, - .Liberal partyi; organisation, unity, .mdVihosiou were, unfortunately, entirely eironcous. am, that four other Liberal candidates wnro n\ the field, two of whom at least were determined to contest the. seat. I l !a d been induced to_consent to nomination bv t-hc assurances of iiir-.K-rmp influential poisons that tho Hawke's Bay electorate, in vie.vr of tho iibnonnal conditions due to the war, dmiicd this by-eleciion to be rim rmher on national tuau on local linos, and that mv non-re-,;, deuce in the district would not be --egavded as a duqualilicalimi. 'lbis is not the rise. 1 Lari im desire to thrust myself into tho election, tor 1 have always been a\erse io i e-entering politics, but, my objections 'wore overcome by an appeal on patriotic grounds. T regret to disappoint, many friends belonging to bath parties who have, ac-kcu me to stand, with a view to assisting somo sc i„. tiou ot me national problems that confrontus; but theconditions represented to me, and upon which 1 consented, are. 1 und. hiliridy absem m Hawke's Bay. and I hrm iheretort: with.drawn ray nomination.’' 1