OROUA SEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1924, Page 2

OROUA SEAT.

SPLIT IN REFORM RANKS, il.ytlctoii Times Correspondent). PALMERSTON N.. May G. The (leelnratien ol tlu* Hon I). 11. Guthrie t:uu h" v. nih.l not again contest tin* Oman seat, which he retained at last -election by the narrowest of margins again-t hi- Liberal opponent. Ml* R. Coliln*. lias placed tin* Reform organisation of tbat electorate under tile necessity of finding a successor to the .Minister. After many conclaves ami the (mulling t.T the count ryside. four “possibles" were unearthed, and their mimes were submitted to a caliimittce which decided upon Mr Cordon Klimt. who was selected by a majority of one vote over Mr liugb M lutyre. Both are of Feuding.

However, this is not the last word in this pre-election appointment, and there arc allegations that a “squaii* deal" was again a minus quantity. The following letter has been addressed to tin* secretary of tin* Oroiin Reform Committee by Mr M Inlyrc. and is self-explanatory : “In confirming my e uiveisat ion w ith yon, ) b"g to put on record mv protest against the peculiar methods employed ill the select ion ot a Reform candidate for Oroua electorate lor next election. When 1 was apnraaehed by uflieialspif the committee it was stated that tin* selection would be made by a committee, the whole personnel of which was read to me. I agreed to abide by the decision of the members: of tbat committee. However. I was astounded to learn that utter tin* meeting of Friday evening. May 2nd. at which ibc selection was made, a number of additional members inul been added to the committee, some as Into as that evening. As this obviously violated the original conditions laid down and afforded opportunity for political manipulation, and is apt to lead to underground engineering, to say nothing of liole-and-conier methods, against, which it ml loaded dice the Reform Party had so strenuously set its face in the past. 1 have ill these circumstances i:o alternative but to *4,it** that T am not in any wav boon I by a decision contravening both the letter and the s]iiit of the agreement, and hold myseif free as to the future to take .such steps ns the host interests oi tho Reform Party warrant, and should I see lit to -do so, to appeal f*i appr.,val to the wider constituency of 1 hi* electors *it large.” The candidate. Mr Elliot, i- an amiable cx-larmcr. who was a good battier for Reform and he is a typical Reform rank and filer.

Mr M’lntrrc is a well known edm ntiniiist. lawyer and farmer, but his indo:i(.*ii(leii**e regarding oxim-|::ilitieal Hi’s. i*vi lfiilly if* njiniii't him.