Dominion

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 October 1931, Page 7

Dominion

THE GENERAL ELECTION

The fact that the working agreement between the Reform and United parties is a coalition and not a fusion has created some knotty problems as 1 to election candidates for party managers to solve. There is first the question as to whether the sitting members . who support the Government are entitled to the Government nomination as a matter of right, and should have their Reform or United opponents withdrawn or disowned. Also, who is to carry the Government banner in attacks on Labour and Independent seats where both United and Reform candidates are in the field? In view of the necessity of sending the best possible men procurable to Parliament, it is urged some of the sitting members could be wisely replaced by better men, but naturally the sitting members do not see it in that light. Against sitting Reform members there are 23 United candidates, and against United members 12 Reform candidates, as well as Labour nominees in 22 of these seats. A triangular duel might allow the Labour candidate to slip in, it is urged, but in nine United and four Reform seats there is a straight-out contest between Reform and United, and it is asked why these men should have a walk over or Labour candidates be tempted to contest them? It may end in a number of the present party candidates, who have done a considerable amount of campaigning, standing as Independents with a general promise of support to the Government.