GENERAL ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1931, Page 4

GENERAL ELECTION

UNITED. PARTY’S INTENTIONS “The United Party has'finally selected its candidates for at . least 75 per cent, of the seats in the House, and it expects in a very short time to have selected suitable candidates for practically the whole remaining 25 per cent.” This statement was made recently by a prominent member of the New Zealand Executive of the United Party. He said there was no doubt that United was being offered a fine class of man for its candidates, and in the whole history of Liberalism he had novel' known any leaders, not even the Hon. Richard Spddon or Sir Joseph Ward, to be received with such profound admiration as Mr Forbes had been by all classes of the community. He was looked upon as an honest, courageous, safe leader, and a leader that the country was fortunate in having under the present circumstances. The United Executive official said that he had gathered in most of the places he had visited that not so much was said about party, but frequent mention was made of the profound respect, in which people held Mr Forbes, and of their utmost confidence in him.

“Mr Forbes’ proposals to have the country, in its present, state, governed by a national party, seem to meet with almost, unanimous favour," he declared. The impression was that Mr Forbes’ idea was that the country should pay its way at almost any cost and should be united to combat the greater danger of militant labour. The United Party executives throughout New Zealand had agreed with Mr Forbes’ attitude on the fusion question when he returned from England, and they supported his statement the other day that events that had happened since made tho question of a national party even more imperative than it was then.

COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY

“If there is vote splitting at the elections, as appears now to be almost certain, it will be neither the wish nor the work of the United Party, whose main desire at the forthcoming elections is to place the interests of the country above all politics or party interests,” he continued.. The only gesture that had come from the Reform Party had been the resolution carried at a meeting of its supporters last week in Hurunui at which it was decided not to nominate a candidate in opposition to the Prime Minister.

The gesture was promptly appreciated by the National Executive of the United Party in Wellington, which carried a resolution to the effect that in view of the Prime JVlinister’s wellknown position with regard to having the country nationally governed, it would recommend its body in Kaipara electorate not to nominate a candidate against the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. J. G. Coates). It particularly desired that nothing should be done to militate against the well-known intention of the Prime Minister. The action of the •National Executive was very cordially appreciated by the Prime Minister, and in congratulating the executive, the “Evening Post,” in a leading article, said that it had n.ot only “done' the right thing, 'but done it in the right way.” Commenting further on the forthcoming elections, this gentleman said, that in several of the electorates, those’ standing in support of Mr Forbes and his policy were formerly strong supporters of Reform. He pointed to the dangers of triangular contests as illustrated in the city of Wellington, where at least three seats were at present held by Labour—Wellington East, North and South —none of which, it was generally conceded, could be retained in a straight-out contest.