NO LABOUR NOMINEE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 4

NO LABOUR NOMINEE

VACANT HAURAKI SEAT DECISION BY PARTY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Labour Party will not contest the Hauraki electorate rendered vacant by the death of LieutenantColonel J. M. Allen in the Libyan campaign. Mr. Fraser announced last night that both the Hauraki Labour Representation Committee and the national executive of the party had decided that the seat would not be contested by a Labour candidate. “In addition to the fact that any by-election contest is most objectionable at the present moment with the Japanese threat hanging immediately over us, and while our commonwealth and our Allies and the United States are being attacked so ruthlessly in the Pacific, the thought of contesting the seat rendered vacant by the death of an Opposition soldier member of Parliament who lost his life bravely fighting for all of us on the field of battle, is simply unthinkable, apart from the evil effect of spreading strife and discord when national unity is imperative as never before, which is more than an adequate reason .for abstaining from a contest,’’ said Mr. Fraser.

“I feel with the Government and the Government party that refraining from an election contest is a tribute of respect to a gallant soldier member of Parliament who has laid down his life for all people of the constituency and, indeed, of the country as a whole, irrespective of political association. I feel sure that this attitude accurately reflects almost the unanimous opinion of the people of New Zealand.”