MR ISITT’S SEAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1924, Page 2

MR ISITT’S SEAT

A REQUEST REFUSED.

(Special to “Star.”)

WELLINGTON, September 12. Mr Lee asked the Prime Minister in the House to-day, whether he had noticed a paragraph in the Press suggesting that Mr Isitt should resign his seat for. Christchurch North, and recontest it, if the Government did not electrify the Lyttelton Tunnel. Would the Prime Minister persuade Mr Isitt to;, give effect to the paragraph, so that Labour might have an opportunity of winning the seat? The Prime Ministerjeplied : “I have seen' the paragraph m question, and I do not take the very slightest notice of it. .1, know perfectly well that Mr Isitt will’ hold his .seat as long as he likes to stand, and I do not think that. Labour has a hope.” (Loud laughter). . ’“BREACH OF HONOUR.” WELLINGTON, September 11. In regard to a suggestion by Mr W. Machin, of Christchurch, that die should resign- and precipitate, a byelection as a protest against the .nonqbmpletion of the ChristchurchLyttelton Tunnel, Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P. for Christchurch North, says that he has had fodr such suggestions made to him to resign and test local opinion at a by-election, but it would be absurd for him to do so, especially as he has stated that he does not again intend to stand for Parliament, and he certainly has no desire to commence a new political career as an Independent. . x -

Moreover, in view of the pledge he gaev his constituents to support the present Government .against their probable displacement by means of a combination of Labour and Liberals, he could not resign now and perhaps cause a dissolution in order to support a merely local scheme. To do so would involve a breach of honour on his £art.