THE HUTT SEAT

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1929, Page 7

THE HUTT SEAT

PROBABLE CANDIDATES. \ MR W. NASH FOR LABOUR. f (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) ;[ WELLINGTON, This Day. I The term of appointment of the Hon. T. AL Wilford, K. €., as Higli Commissioner for New Zealand in. London is j. for three years from January*!, this f being the customary period. r Air Wilford leaves with Airs Wilford j by the liner Rangitiki from Welling- , ton on December 7. As he is an ex--5 tremely 'busy administrator it is unlikely that he will resign his Cabinet I position until December, but there is [ already much discussion over the coming by-election for the Hutt seat. Subject to party approval, which is almost a foregone conclusion, the United party candidate will be Afr James Kerr, sou of a former Legislative Councillor. The candidate has for H» years been chairman of Mr Wilford’s organising committee. He is a local newspaper proprietor, and active in affairs of Hutt Valley, being chairman of the Petone Chamber of Commerce, one of the governors of the Hutt Valley High .School, and a member of the Fire Board. Alany years ago Mr Kerr, who is a.n old West Coaster, ventured into the political arena against the late Sir Arthur Guinness at Greymouth, and was defeated by 7UO votes. m The official Labour candidate for Hutt in the last election was Air Walter Nash, national secretary of the party, who was defeated in a straightout contest by 1300 votes. There Is to he a selection ballot, if necessary, but it is assumed that Air Nash will have , another opportunity. He could have ‘ been one of the New Zealand delegation to the Pacific Relations Conference, now sitting in Kyoto, but coming j events cast their shadows before, and ( Air Nash declined the trip. He is not , likely to have a straight-out contest on the forthcoming occasion, as the former Reform nominee, Mr H. D. Bennett, a 1 Wellington .city councillor, his intention' to stand. A final selectipn has to be made, as it is under- g stood another Reform aspirant is Sir Alexander Roberts, Mayor of Lower “ Hutt, who was iNew Zealand si oner at Wembly Exhibition. A la,ter message states that the Lahour Representation Committee called g for nominations from all affiliated branches early in the year and closing in July, and Mi r Walter Nash was the only name submitted. j-