PARNELL ELECTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 6

PARNELL ELECTION

STRONG LABOUR CANDIDATE. REFORM NOMINEE AWAITED. (By telegraph.—Special to Standard.) AUCKLAND. April 9 ; The result of the Parnell by-election cannot be foretold at this early date, and the issqe at present seems very *Tbe Reform Party lias been very slow in selecting a candidate; while the Labour and United parties have both announced their choice. However, the Reform delegates meet tomorrow night to decide who will cauy the Reform banner, and the result or the election will depend to a great extent upon the result of this meeting* Parnell is essentially an anti-Labour electorate, but Labour has an unusually strong candidate in Mr T. Bloodworth, who is esteemed not only by the Labour followers, but also by his political opponents. He will poll solidly. Apart from the fact that the United candidate is a brother of a Minister, he is not likely to do extraordinarily well, unless the Reform Party makes a mistake in the choice of its candidate. . . . , . There are four Reform aspirants in the field. Mr J. Endean, a well-known local lawyer and yachtsman, with uo previous political experience, which is in his favour; Mr H. R. Jenkins, who resigned his seat and has changed his spots like the leopard from United to Reform: Mr J. 8. Dickson, who was defeated by Mr Jenkins at the last election but who gave loyal, if not particularly, brilliant service to the party during a lengthy term of office in Parliament, and, lastly, Mr Glover Clark, who until recently was a United Party stalwart. Mr Glover Clark can be eliminated at' once, and the choice will rest between the other three. Rumour indicates that Mr Jenkins will be chosen, in, which case Reform may lose the seat; as many Reform voters in Parnell will refuse to support him. , Mr Endean has no political past, and is popular. He would have a solid following. Mr Dickson, as mentioned before, has not rendered brilliant service, but is intensely loyal. He would also' be well supported. The Reform delegates’ decision therefore is being eagerly awaited by the rank and filo of the party in the electorate, many of whom will refrain from voting if the choice does not please them. *