MR. GROUNDS TO STAND AS INDEPENDENT IN BAY OF ISLANDS

Northern Advocate, 23 February 1938, Page 8

MR. GROUNDS TO STAND AS INDEPENDENT IN BAY OF ISLANDS

A definite announcement that he will be contesting the Bay of Islands seat as an independent was made by Mr. William Grounds, of Broadwood, in a statement given to the press in Whangarei last night. “In view of the impressive and enthusiastically unanimous invitation presented to me by the meeting of electors at Ohaeawai on Monday last, and which was fully representative of practically all districts in the Bay of Islands electorate,” he said, “I have accepted nomination as an independent candidate at the forthcoming general election, I will place both my industry and judgment at the service of the electors.”

Mr. Grounds is a past chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Control Board, and of the North Auckland Dairy Conference and is the present chairman of the Hokianga Co-op. Dairy Company, a position which he has held for many years. At the last election he polled heavily as an independent against the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates in the Kaipara electorate.

He is the chairman of the Northland Commission, appointed under the Mortgagees and Lessors’ Rehabilitation Act. Deputation Meets Mr. Grounds

The meeting of country party delegates held at Ohaeawai, was attended by 62 delegates. Upon a unanimous decision being reached to ask Mr. Grounds to contest the seat as an Independent, there were scenes of high enthusiasm. Mr. Grounds was not present, but when waited upon at the Commercial Hotel last night by a delegation from the meeting comprising Messrs. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., J. W. Jones, and W. Boyce, he gave his consent to nomination.