The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1931. MR. LYSNAR AND THE UNITED PARTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11592, 19 August 1931, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1931. MR. LYSNAR AND THE UNITED PARTY.

With, much interest, the electors are awaiting further developments in connection with tills year’s battle for the Gisborne seat. As is wellknown, there are already threq aspirants in tho field —Mr. Lysnar, the sitting member; Mr. H. do Lautpur, the ■ official Reform candidate; and Mr Coleman, Labor’s noniineo. There is some talk, however, that it will bo found that more than three candidates will go to the poll. We are, however, inclined to tlio belief that it will be a triangular contest. What electors are enquiring is: ‘Where is tho official United nominee?” But all that can bo said for certain is that the government has, so far, not bothered to make any, announcement in respect of the Gisborno seat. If it had been, intended to put up a straight-out United candidate on the present occasion, one would have imagined that publication of tho name would riot have been so long delayed. What is transpiring is, however, so transparnot that nobody should be deceived. In short, Mr. Lysnar appears to be angling very hard for United support in connection with the contest for the seat. This, it will bo agreed, is a ve-ry shrewd move on his part, for his chances of (re-election, in a field of three, are not strong; and wdth . an. additional antialso standing, they could be Adit down as absolutely hopfdess. There is, of course, /ho . real . need to recall that in tho past, Mr. Lysnar lias owed his presenco in Parliament to a promise to support Reform principles. In between'elections, he would make a point of protesting that lie should bo regarded as an Independent, but, when each poll hove in sight lie was always most careful in: seeing to it that lie got the Reform label. Thero will, of course, bo no Reform ‘'‘tag” for M'r. Lysnar on this occasion: hence his anxiety to curry favor with Mr. Forbes as much as possible. Such a condition of anxiety would account for his anti-Reform outburst. in the House the other evening, when he said he hoped .that tho Reform party would not . bo able to rear, mp its head after the election”! The electors wall not have forgotten that, in. 1928, aftor" the last election My. Lysnar voted 1 with Reform against the Unitcds’ ' successful ho-conJidenoo amendment. What then lias happened since?' The “man on the street” avers that Mr. Forbes coaxed Mr. Lysnar away from Reform by promising to afford him, facilities to have his Meat Rpaird Amendment Bill fully discussed. At any rate, Reform will have none of tlio measure and Mr. Lysnar to-day cannot think of'anything too harsh; to say ■against , Coates. ?<. 'his .colleagues.- It may he the case that tins government will continue to hesitate about handing ;Ovcr_; the United label to Mr.' Lysnar for the coming election, " ’ -What ' CS S' H t»h®h •'&*

granted, however, is that it will pause a great deal longer boforo it puts up an official government candidate' for tho seat. In a nutshell, .Mr Lysna-r lias now got Mr. Forbes in just as awkward a position as ho li<ad Mr Crates in 192 S and it need como as no surprise if Mr. Lysnar should, on this; occasion, twist iround, and stand a& an Independent with strong leanings towards the United side! s