GENERAL ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1928, Page 9

GENERAL ELECTIONS

AITD-CANTERBURY CANDIDATE. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, June 25. Air Hiram Hunter, formerly a member of the Christchurch City Council, who has been travelling in the Ashburton district for several months past, has been asked by a number of farmers to offer his services as Labour candidate for the mid-Canterbury seat at the coming General Election. Air Hunter has also been urged by a number of local members of the Labour Party again to enter the political arena. He has decided, if it is the wish of members of the party that he should be a candidate for midCanterbury seat, that he will be quite willing to offer his services to the electors. UNITED PARTY. Alatters in connection with the selection of candidates for Canterbury seats at the next General Election will occupy the attention of Air A. E. Davy, Dominion organiser of the United Party, for the next week or ten days. Together with the Acting Leader, Air G. W. Forbes, AI.P., he arrived, in Christchurch from the South on Saturday night, after attending to the party’s organisation work in Otago and Southland for several days. Air Davy stated to-day that at the present time interest was concentrated on the Riccarton electorate. Aleetings of friends and supporters of the United Party were being held in Riccarton, Fendalton and Lincoln this week The selection of the candidate would be made on Friday night. A ballot would be necessary as several candidates were offering for the seat. The selection of candidates for Christchurch South, Avon, and AlidCanterbury will also be considered during Mr Davy’s stay in Christchurch.

Mr Davy expressed his entire satisfaction with the situation in Otago and Southland. He said that a very enthusiastic meeting was held at Riverton on Thursday night, when a. strong branch was formed, and a deputation appointed to wait on Mr W. E. Taylor, a well-known business man, for the purpose of asking him to contest the Wallace seat as the United Party candidate. Supporters of the party in Wallace are very sanguine about winning the seat. In regard to the Oamaru seat, Mr Davy said he would shortly be visiting Oamaru, when it is expected a candidate would be announced. There is a strong branch in the electorate, and organisation work is well in hand. Mr Davy said he had met supporters of the party in Timaru, where a strong organisation was set up. It is intended to contest the Timaru, Waitaki and Temuka seats. Matters are approaching finality in regard to the Dunedin electorates. The provincial organiser, Mr H. C. Wing, is to be given further assistance by the appointment of sub-organisers.

CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER.

WELLINGTON, June 25.

With the retirement of Mr J. Hislop from the dual position of Under Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, and Chief Electoral Officer, it has been decided to separate the offices. The appointment of Mr G. P. Newton as Under Secretary has already been announced, and the Public Service Commissioner advises that Mr G. G. Hodgkins, who for some years has held the position of Deputy Chief Electoral Officer will become Chief Electoral Officer as from Sunday next.

Mr Hodgkins has held various posts in the Department since 1902, and in 1916, the Government sent him to Tasmania to investigate there the working of proportional representation, and the operation in the Commonwealth of the compulsory registration of electors. The New Zealand system of compulsory registration is the result of his recommendation, as is the system of postal voting to apply this year.