GENERAL ELECTION

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1935, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

DEMOCRAT PARTY Rumoured Split (Per Press Association). HAMILTON, August 10. Interviewed, Mr C. J. Parlane, genera! manager of the New Zealand Coop. Dairy Company, gave an emphatic denial to a statement that in February last he requested Mr H. 11. Corbin to accept nomination for 'the Rotorua seat in the interests of the Democratic Party. Mr Corbin was totally unknown to him and he could regard the statement as a flight of imagination or tin meanderings of a partisan political Press Neither himself, personally, nor the fo.m.pauy, was taking any part m poliWELLINGTON, August 10. Mr A. E. Davy, chief executive officer of the Democratic political organisation. has been authorised by tire Dominion executive to issue a statement which says, inter alia: “That progress of the party is apparent 1 y causing grave concern to its political opponents, 'the little contretemps at Rotorua is one liable (to occur with a party for which many candidates aspire to stand and the executive has the fullest confidence in the Auckland divisional executive.

“Regarding Mr Goodfellow, his opinions, after all are entirely his o wn - What will or will not be done will be decided by th e Democrat organisation. A conference of candidates here on August 21st will discuss political matters. The canard that there is any real dissension is too ridiculous for words. In every party there may be a few people with divergent opinions, but the problems of the National Socialists and Labour Socialist’s are greater than those of the Democrat Party.” The executive professes t° b e amused at the efforts of opponents to damage the parjty. AUCKLAND. August 10.

A serious crisis within the ranks of the Democrat Party is said to be threatened as a result of differences of opinion which have arisen concerning the choice of a candidate for the Rotorua seat.

Simultaneously with the announcement of -I'he. candidature, of Mr F. W. Doidge for the seat with the support of Mr W. Goodfellow (a member of tin' Auckland executive of Ihe Democrat Party) a statement was released ■that Mr H. H. Corbin, formerly professor of forestry at’ AuclCand, was the official nominee of the party loi Rotorua. . . The clash of interests revealed in the two announcements is expected to bring matters to a head rapidly and the opinion is strongly held m political circles in Auckland that a break between prominent supporters of the party and Mr A. E. Davy, the chief executive officer and Dominion organiser is imminent. . „ ’ It is. expected that the position will be the subject of much debate at the conference of candidates, which has been arranged to be held in Welling ion on August 21st, and in the meanlime supporters of .the other politiea organisations are deriving a good deal of amusement from the tioublos of the Democrats. . Mr Goodfellow, one of the most influential members of the Democrat Tarty, was not willing to discuss the position When approached, but stated he definitely supported Mr Doidge s candidature for Rotorua. Although he would not discuss the trouWe at Rotorua. it was gathered that he has not severed liis connection with the party. When Mr Corbin was approached he s-iifl that as far as he knew he was (I'efinitelv the party’s nominee for Rotorua. The first request that he. should allow himself to b e nominated for the seat was made to him early m February bv Mr C. J. Parlane. general manage, of Ihe New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, and he had ' since received ‘ further requests from residents in the electorate. Having finally decided to accept the nomination he was now definitely a candidate. The position has become, more comp'icated as a. result of a statement on behalf of the Auckland executive that no committee of the Democrat Party exists in Rotorua, and that no one there is authorised to speak for the party. It has been revealed however, that Mr Doidge’s candidature has been sponsored by supporters of the partv in Rotorua. Mr Doidge. in an interview at Rotorua. said that the announcement regarding Mr Corbin’s eandidateure did not' affect his position one iota. He was not allied to any political party, bill' shared the views recently expressed by Sir Alexander Herdman and Mr .1. D. Caro, of Hamilton. He added flint l’ p Uad open mind towards the Democrats. CHRISTCHURCH. August 10. It is suggested here, that the Demo c.rat Party troubles may be met by rhe forming of a new partv Ineluding Sir A L. D. Herdman and Mr Doidge. Tt is thought that there may be trouble on August 21st when the Democrat candidates meet at Wellington. Some of the Executive are not approving certain prospective candidates who have been in touch with Mr Davy. SEEKING AN OTAKI CANDIDATE. (Ppt Prnss A .) WFLTTNGTON. August 11. The selection of n National Political Federation candid'-ite to contest the Otaki seat was advanced a further s'tage on Ba!tnrday. when a meetinir of o committee of was held 'a;+ Paekakariki. One nomination find been received, that, of Mr Alexander Monk, of Reikornncfi. and later in thp, meeting, that of Mr A. B. Soivwriffht, of Wellington was submitted. Mr W. Appleton, also of Wellington, is to be- invited to submit his name to a selection bal’ot.