MR HERDMAN'S SEAT.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13984, 21 November 1917, Page 3

MR HERDMAN'S SEAT.

QUESTION OP'A ( STO0ilB80R ( < / MSOUSBBD. ° , h COLONEL J. G. HUGHES A i PROBABLE CANDIDATE. N,ovembor 19. , The announcement of tbA probable early rotuemont of tho Hon, A, L, Hdrdman has aiQUSod some interest in the question of who is to bo the next mombcr of tho Houso of BepresonUius for Wellington North Many names have been mentioned aihong the peoplo mostly concorned, but none of tl em lias been mentioned openly. The first announcement mado publicly is in the Post of this evening, and fho itatoment is that Lieutenant Colpnpl J, Gothin Hughos, D.5.0., Ims been op ' proaehed by "representatives of two 1 fiifluoutial organisations" and asked to allow himself to bo nominated for tho 1 \icancj as soon as it occurs. This statement is correct, but noiihor Colonel i Hughes noi Ins friends havo slatodttho the bodies arc Colonel Hughes says 1 tint he does not considci that he is at i liberty to saj who they aro Ho Ins » not yet given them his answer, but ' whon he does so it will be necessary-for I him to state who tho people arc who i ire behind- his candidature. ...'•' i If the pact ;mndc'botweon tbo two ■ parties at tlic time of tlic formation of i the National 'Government is to be fully i carried out, the candidate to bear the • banner of the Government in tho fight. • must be a 'nominee of Mr Massey. ! Colonel "Jaeky" Hughes has' been' • well known in -Wellington'.for many ; years, but he has never been kuown as • a politician. It is, therefore, .impos- ■ siblo for. anyone. to -pay what his poli- , tics' are to be, but.it is a fact that most , of his friends.of past years have beon • Liberals. If ho is a Liberal, he must - <taud as an opponent of. the Govern- ; incut -nominee.;. The sent, can bo won ; with the greatest ease by a , member'now, but it is another matter ; to choose a member who is likely to ■, hold the seat after the dissolution of - the National Government, when party • warfare will lip*resumed, • ~ It is understood'that the Government ; can have the services of quite a mini- ,. ber of gentlemen, anil that the chief iliflieulty about the selection of a can- . didate' is this very multiplicity of candidates eligible. The chances-are that, ~ in the end, Mr J. P. Luke '(Mayor of Wellington) will get the nomination. . lie is a man likely to win the seat on '. account of the good service he has '/iven as .Mayor in tho war time. On !' the other' hand, if the Government .' -hould decide.to adopt Colonel Hughes, {' he would have a triumphant win. He ,' is very well liked socially, and in two ' wars he has been an amazingly popular ,' nWcer on active service with the troops '' mder his command. He will get many .' '.-.ii-i because of his excellent personal / qualities, and as a■ soldiers' candidato .' he may be a difficult man to beat. L ' • THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. h , l MR J. P. LUKE SELECTED. i, (Per Press Association). .: WELLINGTON, Novomber 20, .; It is .announced that Mr J. P. Luke .; Mayor of .Wellington,i will', liavo tht support of the .Government in the com ?. ing election for- Wellington North. ( r , Colonel Hughes, who has been asked '., to stand, is to give his reply to-inorroff. li, It is improbable.'tho election will be .; held before February.