N. Z. ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1931, Page 2

N. Z. ELECTIONS

AVOIDING VOTE SPLITTING. [PJEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, October 27. Party representatives from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin met at Wellington to-day, when the question of candidates at the poming elections was fully discussed. An assurance was given that everything would be done to avoid vote splitting and embarrassments, and conflicts at the polls. EGMONT POSSIBILITIES. ELTHAM, October 27. Interviewed by an “Argus” representative regarding the report that the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, contemplated contesting the Egrnont seat, Mr C- A. Wilkinson, M.P., said that he woijld be very pleased to meet Mr Masters in the coming contest in the Egrnont electorate, but he was of the opinion that Mr Masters should consider contesting Mr Atmore’s seat and thus demonstrate his fitness to m id the office of Minister of Education as against the Minister .whom he superseded. My Wi’kinson also said it was high time that Cabinet Ministers should be ’representatives with majorities in their electorates, there being one Cabinet Minister with no constituents and four others, namely, Messrs D. Jones, A. Hamilton, Downie Stewart and J. A. Young, all minority representatives. In fact, the last four gentlemen had polled 3464 votes fewer than their combined opponents. Mr Wilkinson also stated that there would be a large number of Independent candidates in the field, there being a growing feeling that the policy of the Coalition Government was not the policy to lift the country out of the slough of depression at present existing. The matter was also commented upon by Mr <•’. Gawith, official Reform candidate for Egrnont- Mr Gawith said that he had not been approached on Mr Masters’s behalf, and, in any case, he had no intentions of retiring from the contest, much less for Mr Masters. MR. COATES’S INTIMATION. HAWERA, October 28. A rumour that Mr. R. Masters would bo nominated as the Coalition candidate to oppose Mr. Wilkinson for Egment, is discounted by a letter from Mr Coates to Mr. F. Gawith, the official Reform candidate, in which Mr Gawith is informed that he is the Coalition nominee. Mr. Coates further states that where both United and Reform candidates have been nominated to oppose a sitting member, tko Government will choose between the two. A list of selected candidates for such electorates will be published shortly. AUCKLAND CANDIDATES. AUCKLAND, October 27. The selection of Coalition candidates to contest Auckland Metropolitan seats advanced to-day, when the situation in three constituencies’was clarified. The developments included the endorsement of Mr J. A. C. Allam and Mr R. Harryatt as Coalition candidates for Auckland West and Auckland Suburbs respectively, and a decision by Sir George Richardson, Reform candidate for Auckland East to retire in favour of the sitting member, Mr J. Donald. LOCAL DISSATISFACTION. AUCKLAND, October 28. Considerable dissatisfaction is voiced in the local United Party organisation at the selection of Coalition candidates, without local supporters being consulted. The Chairman of the' Auckland West United Committee, commenting on the announcement of Mr J. A. C. Allum’s selection, said that the Reform candidate had been a bad third at the last two elections, therefore Mr Allum’s selection, was not acceptable and if it were persisted in, a candidate would be selected to carry the banner of Liberalism. Mr W. B. Darlow, who was announced before the Coalition as an In. dependent United candidate for Waitemata, announces that he will not withdraw.

Miss Melville, the women’s candidate for Auckland East, says that she will consult the women's groups who support her. It is reported that Mr G. Rickards (Reform) will be the Coalition candidate for Manukau. AT TIMARU. TIMARU, October 27. There was a good attendance of Reform Party supporters at a meeting held/ to-night, when it was decided to enter into the spirit of the Coalition Government and call themselves Coalitionists. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting of Coalition Government supporters is prepared to abide by the choice of the Coalition Cabinet in the selection of the candidate to contest the Timaru seat.” HAWKE’S BAY. HASTINGS, October 28. Mr George Roach, Mayor of Hast, ings, the United candidate chosen to contest the Hawke’s Bay seat against Mr H. M. Campbell, the Reform member, has withdrawn his candidature. The committee supporting Mr Roach met yesterday, to consider a telegram from Mr R. Masters. It was decided to recommend Mr Roach to accede to the Prime Minister’s request, that he withdraw. Mr Forbes has been advised of Mr Roach’s decision.