LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 8

LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Government Candidate CAREER OF MR. M. E. LYONS I’plpgraDh • Pieae Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. Mr. M. E. Lyons, secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, has been selected to contest the Lyttelton by-election in the interests of the National Political Federation. The nomination of Mr. Lyons was ratified unanimously by a large meeting of Lyttelton electors held at Christchurch yesterday. Mr. Lyons has been secretary of the A. and P. Association since 1928, and he is also secretary of the New Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Association. He was born in Wairarapa in 1889 and educated at the Masterton and Feilding District High Schools. He was engaged in farming in Hawke’s Bay till 1910, when he entered journalism, specialising in agriculture. He was agricultural editor of the Christchurch “Sun.” He served with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles from 1916 to 1919. At the General Election in 1925 Mr. Lyons contested the Lyttelton seat against the late Mr. J. McCombs in the interests of the Reform Party. He was declared elected with a majority of eight, but was unseated by a decision of an election court as electors had been enrolled in Lyttelton who resided over the boundary. Mr. Lyons has been a member of the city council since 1927 and the domain board since 1930. He is a member of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society.

LABOUR DISSENSION

Mr. Thorn’s Nomination Opposed

By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 19.

It is reported that there is considerable dissension in the Labour ranks about the selection, or probable selection, of Mr Janies Thorn as the Labour candidate. It is said to be passible that a last-minute effort will be made by Labour organisations in Lyttelton and Woolston to prevent the nomination of Mr Thorn on the ground that there are persons within the electorate qualified to stand as the party’s candidate.

The Lyttelton branch of the party on Sunday supported the nomination of Mr Thorn but it is understood the Labour supporters in Lyttelton are not unanimous. Woolston, the largest branch, is said to favour Mr T. McCombs.