THE “NATIONAL” PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 18998, 21 July 1925, Page 3

THE “NATIONAL” PARTY

FRESH STATEMENT FROM LEADER CLAIMS SOME REFORM SUPPORT [Pm United Phebi Absqoution.J WELLINGTON, July 20. The Leader of the National Party (Mr T. M. Wilford) announced to-day that at a branch meeting of the National Party, hold at Gisborne, Mr George Smith was chosen as the local candidate of the party for the coining General Election. Mr Smith is a prominent business man in Gisborne, and was recently chairman of the Gisborne Harbor Board. The sitting member for Gisborne is Mr W. D. Lysnar. Intimation has been received by Mr Wilford that Mr Richard Cobbe, jun., of Peilding, will stand for the National Party at next election against Mr Gordon Elliott, the Reform candidate. Mr Wilford stated that the manifesto issued on • Friday night, which announced the change of the name of the Liberal-Labor Party, had met with a 1 marvellous response. Already the Gis- j borne branch had telegraphed its congratulations, and had altered its name to that of the new party. Furthermore, it bad selected the first Nationalist candidate. The Feilding branch of the old party communicated its allegiance to the new party. Branches at Waimato, Dunedin, Christchurch, Bulls, Marion, and Auckland City had also i telegraphed congratulations, and had j offered assistance. Prom Christchurch came an offer of a Nationalist candi- j dato who never before had stood for, or even bad been an active supporter of, the Liberal-Labor Party. In a letter received that morning from a Reform supporter in the Wairarapa, in the constituency of the Minister of Lands, 1 the writer convoyed good wishes, and stated that ho had discussed the position with twenty of his Reform friends since the ’issue of the manifesto, and all would stand behind the Nationalist candidate. j