SOUTHERN MAORI SEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16761, 30 January 1918, Page 5

SOUTHERN MAORI SEAT.

MR. ELLISON'S CANDIDATURE. REQUESTED NOT TO STAND. [DT TKLEGRAPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. In' connection with the Southern Maori election, Mr. T. M. Ellison, of Puketeraki, who stood at the last general election as a Reform candidate, telegraphed to Sir Joseph Ward on January 21, that he proposed to stand as a supporter of the National Government. A telegram was next day sent to Mr. Ellison by the leaders of the respective parties, informing him that under the truce established upon the creation of the National Government, an undertaking was entered into between the two parties that in the event of a vacancy the leader of the party to which the former member belonged was to nominate a candidate, and the support of both parties was to be asked for on his behalf. "The late Mr. Charles Parata having been a member of the Liberal Party," the joint telegram proceeded, "his successor requires to be selected from the Liberal Party by Sir Joseph Ward. In the circumstances, you will recognise it is not possible for you to be nominated o.i behalf of the National Government, and our desire is that you should not stand, and that your support and assistance should be given to whoever is nominated by Sir Joseph Ward to fill the place of the late Liberal member. This is the course that has been followed in connection with European seats in the Dominion since the National Government was formed, and we hope that the Maoris will respect this' arrangement."