Keen Fights Promised

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6630, 8 June 1928, Page 8

Keen Fights Promised

Candidates for Coining Polls

All Parties Prepare for Early Campaign

While New Zealanders as a rule take their politics quietly, the exceptional activity of the party organisations ,in connection with the selection of candidates for this year’s general. election indicates that it is likely to be one of the keenest campaigns in the history of the Dominion.

Under ordinary circumstances, the election will be held some time in November next, but there is a strong belief that, owing to the differences that have arisen in the ranks of the Eeform Party over the licensing question, it may be held earlier than usual. Whether there is any justification this feeling is difficult to determine, buft its'is clear that the opposition parties) are not leaving anything to chance. Apart from sittings members, the United Party has nineteen candidates definitely in the field, and the Labour, Party has nine new aspirants officiallyselected. The Eeform Party also has several candidates,chosen to oppose Opposition members/while the Country Party has nominees for a number of seats in tho Auckland province. In addition to tho nominees of the party organisations, there is thfe usual crop of independents who are offering themselves to the electors. At the last election most of tho sitting Labour members were given straight-out fights against either a Eeformer or a Nationalist, and the consequence was that Labour did not reap any benefit as a result of vote-splitting. No actual arrangement appears to have been entered into between the Eeform and Nationalist Parties with tho object of avoiding vote-splitting, but whichever party was first in the field with a candidate to oppose a sitting Labour member was given a. clear run in that particular electorate. This year no such understanding seems likely to eventuate, and Labovtr stands to profit as a result of votc-spliting. The United Party, which now induces the Nationalist and Liberal organisa-r tions, has declared that-it will nominate candidates for practically every European seat, an<J tho Eeform Party has taken up ’the challenge. Labour will contest every seat where it considers it has a chance of success, and also others' where funds are available. Northern Candidates. For the Bay of Islands seat, the sitting member, Mr. Allan Bell, will bo opposed by a Labour man, and in Marsden Mr. F. Murdoch (United Party) will attempt to turn the tables on Mr. W. Jones (Eeform), who won the seat from him in 1925.

Mr. P. Keighan has been selected by the Country Party to contest tho Waikato seat. Mr. S. Ziman, of Cambridge, is announced*’ as an independent Reformer.-. - Mr. W, J. Broadfoot (United Party) will make another attempt to win the Waitomo seat from Mr; J, C- Eollcston (Beform). >! ■ V ; / ■For tho Gisborne seat, Mr. W. D, Lysh'ar, who styles himself-ah Independent Ecfotmer, . will almost certainly bo opppgSdlby’Mr. D. W. Coleman, the Labpuf.'M’Syor of Gisborne. .■ • Labour at Napier.

Labour will make a big effort' to recapture the Napier seat, which it lost hr 1925. Mr. W. E. Barnard,-a solicitor, of Helensville, North Auckland, who Stood against Mr. Coates in 1925, has been selected as the party's candidate this year. Labour will also, in all probability, run a candidate for the Hawke's Bay seat, and Mr. Gilbert M'Kay, who represented the seat from 1922: to 1925, will doubtless be the United Party nominee. No candidates to oppose the sitting members for the Waipawa, Masterton, Wairarapa, Stratford, Egmont, and Patea seats have been announced. For the Egmont seat, the Hon. 0. J. Hawken is likely to have strong opposition. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, a forrer Reform member for the seat, has been mentioned as a likely independent candidate, and there has been some talk of Mr. W. J. Poison, Dominion President of the Farmers' Union, opposing Mr. Hawken. It is believed, however, that Mr. Poison’s objective is more likely to be Patea, where it is probable'he will solicit support under tha United Party banner. The present member for Patea is Mr. J. E. Corrigan (Liberal), Mr. S. G. Smith (United Party) will endeavour to tecapturo the New Plymouth seat from Mr. C. E. Bellringer (Reform), who won it by a slender majority in 1925. Mr. W. J. Rogers, Labour Mayor of Wanganui, is likely to make another attempt to oust Mr. W. A. Vcitch (United Party) from the Wanganui scat, and Mr. Frank Langstonc will endeavour to recapture Waimarino for Labour. Mr. J. G. Cobbe, of Feilding, has entered the lists of the Oroua seat, in the interests of the United Party. Manawatu Coxwess. % Mr. H. J. D. D. M‘ Manaway will represent the United Party in the Manayatu' contest against the sitting member, Mr. J. Linkjater (Reform). Other ,Contestants for the Manawatu seat will W P. J. Small (Independent Liberal). and Mr. J. H. Taylor (Labour). For the Palmerston seat, Mr. ,J. A. Nash (Reform) is opposed by Mir, W. Bromley (Labour). No candidates have been announced in opposition to the sitting member for Rangitikei as yet. The ex-member for Pahiatua, Mr. A. M'Nicol, it is understood, will oppose the sitting member, Mr. E. A. Ransom (Nationalist), and will make strenuous effort to win back that scat as an unofficial Reformer.

Mr, Coates is promised a keen fight m the Kaipara electorate, where the Labour candidate is Mr. J. G. Barclay, who topped the poll at the election- ofdirectors of the principal daily factory recently. The Labour Party does not expect that Mr. Barclay can win, but believes that he will keep 3Sfr. Coates very, busy in his own electorate during the campaign. Mr. A. Harris will woo the elector's of Waitemata again, and already Mr. E. H. Greville (United Party) and Mr. A. G. Osborne (Labour) are in the field against him. The boundary alterations have created a practically new Eden electorate and Mr. V. H. Potter, M.P., for Eoskill, will be the Reform stalwart. Opposed to him already' are Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (United Party), and Mr. 0. E. Burton, who styles himself a Christian Socialist. The Labour Party may decide not to run a candidate for this seat.

Labour is the only party that has yet shown much activity in regard to the Wellington seats. Mr. W. Nash has been selected to contest the Hutt scat against Mr. T. M. Wilford, Mr. C. H. Chapman Wellington North, Mr. E. Semple Wellington East, Mr. T. Brindlo Wellington Suburbs, Mr. E. M'Kean Wellington South, and Mr. P. Eraser Wellington Central. The latter two seats are now held by the Labour nominees named above. South Island Seats.

Mr. H. G. B. Mason, M.P., for, the present Eden electorate, will represent Labour in the new electorate of Auckland Suburbs. Mr. E. E. Allen (United Party)' is already in the field against him, and Mr. B. Bunn, who contested the Eiccartofi seat some years ago, has announced that he will stand in the Eeform interests.

Messrs. J. A. Lee and M. J. Savage, Labour members for Auckland East and Auckland West respectively, will bo opposed by Messrs. J. B. Donald and E. B. Speirs, United Party candidates. Mr. W. E. Parry. Labour member for Auckland Central, does not yet know who his opponent will be, but Mr. E. N. Bartram (Labour),- Grey Lynn, is so far opposed by Mr. B. Howse (Liberal), The Eeform Party has not yet announced its intentions in regard to these seats. Eor Eoskill, Miss Ellen Melville ana Mr. E. H. Potter, a brother of Mr. V. H. Potter, M.P., have announced themselves as Eeform candidates, and Mr. Ai HalLSkelton will carry the Liberal banner. The Labour Party has not yet selected its candidate.

Apart from tho Christchurch and Dunedin electorates, there have not been many candidates announced in tho South Island.

So far no candidates to oppose tho sitting members have been announced for Nelson, Motueka, Duller, Wairau, Hurunui, Christchurch, South Avon, Mid-Canterbury, Temuka, Timaru, Waitaki, Oamaru, Dunedin North, West, Central, and South, Chalmers, Clutha, Mataura, Wallace, ana Invercargill. Tho United Party has, however, announced three Dunedin candidates, but has not allocated tho scats which they wall contest.

/Mr. J. O’Brien (Labour), who held the Westland seat from 1922 to 1925, will attempt to recapture the seat this year. Labour has completed its selection of candidates for the Christchurch scats, but has not yet reached a decision regarding Hurunui and Mid-Canterbury. Mrs. E. R. M‘Combs will stand for Kaiapui, the Rev. J. K. Archer for Christchurch North, and Mr. G. H. Thompson for Riccarton. Tho United Party has selected Mrs. T. E. Taylor for Christchurch North, Mr. D. F. Dennehy for Christchurch East, and Mr. W. T. Lester for Lyttelton.

Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour) 'will bo opposed by Mr, W. T. F. Eells-Mason for the Manukau seat, the Reform Party not having chosen its nominee. Boundary Changes.

No candidates have yet been announced to oppose the sitting Reform members for Parnell, Franklin, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, and Rotorua, but Labour will most likely contest these seats.

Mr. W. Leo Martin (Labour), who captured the Raglan seat at the byelection last year, already has an opponent in the person of Mr. Walter Seavill (Reform). The alteration of the boundaries resulted in the wiping out of the Ohinemuri' electorate, and Mr. A. M. Samuel, the present Reform member, has been selected to contest the Thames seat, now held by Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Ro form). Mr. Rhodes is likely to stand for the new Hauraki seat.

In addition to these candidates, Mr. J. B. Batchelor has announced himself as an independent for Christchurch East, and Mr. A. A. M‘Lachlan as a Liberal for Riccarton.

Tho Reform Party has not yet made its selections, but it has expressed its determination to contest every Christchurch scat. , - May go to Upper House.

Mr. S. Lye has announced himself ns A Liberal candidate against the Hon. J. A-- Young for the Waikato scat, and his brother, Mr. F. Lye, is the official United Party candidate for Waikato, the Slectorato which he represented from 1922 to 1925,

It is generally expected that Mr. D. Jones, M.P. for Ellesmere, will contest tho Mid-Canterbury electorate, which comprises the bulk of the former Ellesmere and Ashburton electorates, and

that the Hon. W. Nosworthy will go to the Upper House. Labour is expected to contest the Timaru and Waitaki seats, and Mr. J. A. Macpherson will probably attempt to win back the Oamaru scat, which ho lost in 1925.

TheLabour Party is inviting nominations of .candidates to contest tho four Dunedin scats and also Chalmers, and the selection will be made shortly. For Central Otago, Mr. Charles Todd, president of the New Zealand Alliance, and Mr, J. Eichie, chairman of the Vincent County Council, have announced themselves as Eeform candidates for the Central Otago (formerly Wakatipu) seat, now held by Mr. James Horn (United Party). Mr, P. A. de la Perello (United Party) will seek election for tho Awarua seat, which ho held from 1922 to 1925. Labour will probably contest the Wallace and Awarua seats, but it may not oppose Sir Joseph Ward for Invercargill. [Tor much of the information in tho above resume we arc indebted to the Christchurch Star.]