PARNELL ELECTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 99, 24 March 1930, Page 7

PARNELL ELECTION.

THREE CANDIDATES SO FAR. AUCKLAND, March 23. It was freely stated in the city yesterday that the Reform Party had already selecttd its official candidate, the name of Mr E. H. Northcroft being mentioned, together ivith that of Sir James Gunson, who is on his way to the United States for a holiday. lufuiries at tho office of the Reform league drew an emphatic denial of the rumours. The United Party met. but there was no progress in the selection of a candidate. The selection will probably be made on Friday. The first meeting of Reform supporters in Parnell to arrange the appointment of a delegate to a conference to select a candidate is to be held on Wednesday. The Labour Representation Committee will meet on Tuesday evening to consider the situation. The Leader of the Reform Party., Mr Coates, left for Wellington this evening, and will return to Auckland within a few days. He had no statement to make on the choice of a candidate except that the usual procedure of convening a conference of delegates to make a selection, will be followed. : It is unofficially stated in well-in-formed Reform circles that there is little likelihood of Mr J. S. Dickson, the former member for Parnell, receiving the official Reform nomination. No information on this score was given by the Reform League. Messrs Jenkins and Dickson will definitely stand, while yesterday Mr A. J. Burrows, of Devonport, announced that he would contest the seat in Reform interests. Mr Burrow is an old servant of the Reform Party. For 20 years he was organising secretary of the western district in the Tauranga electorate. He claims that the late Mr Massey once made him a promise that he would be considered as a candidate for a seat. Then there will be the United Party and Labour Party candidates, so a large field seems assured.

It is significant that Mr Jenkins in an interview said: “As far as I can eee, the only possible Leader in the House at the present moment is Mr Coates.” „ „ „ The Sun states that Hon. O. F. Nelson, formerly of Samoa, has been approached with a request that he stand.