NOMINATION FOR LABOUR CANDIDATE AT BY-ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 April 1947, Page 8

NOMINATION FOR LABOUR CANDIDATE AT BY-ELECTION

Steps were taken yesterday to nominate Mr John Roberts, for many, years president of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee and the Canterbury Trades Council of the Federation of Labour, for consideration by the Labour Party as the Labour candidate for the vacant Avon seat. The executive of the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union last evening decided to make the nomination.

The first suggestion that Mr Roberts should allow his name to go forward as a Parliamentary candidate was made when Mr H. T. Armstrong (Minister of Labour) died and a by-election was held in the former, electorate of Christchurch East. At that time, Mr Roberts decided that his activities could better be devoted to the industrial inovement. His name has for' long been on the approved list of Parliamentary candidates of the Labour Party. Mr Roberts is secretary of the Canterbury Clothing Workers’ Union and (he president of the New Zealand Clothing Workers’ Union. He has been associated with the Labour Parly since he arrived in New 'Zealand' as a young man. He is on the Labour’ Party’s national executive, which will make the selection of the official candidate for the Avon byelection. Mr Roberts is a member of the Stabilisation Commission.

Another trade union secretary whoso name is also likely to be considered by the national executive is Mr A. G. Williams, secretary of the Printing Trade Union, -and of the Labour Representation Committee.