NO VOTE-SPLITTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 8

NO VOTE-SPLITTING.

AUCKLAND SUBURBS SEAT. ONE REFORM CANDIDATE. SIR JAMES GUNSON SELECTED. OTHER ASPIRANTS WITHDRAW. The danger of vote-splitting in the Reform Party's effort to win the Auckland Suburbs seat at the general election has been avoided by the selection of Sir James Gunson as the official candidate and the withdrawal of. the three other aspirants for the party nomination from the contest. In addition to Sir James Gunson, the candidates offering were Mr. David B. Russell, Mr. Marshall Laing and Mr. B. Bunn. • The four candidates met the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, during his visit to Auckland yesterday, and handed him the following memorandum: —"We, candidates offering for the Reform interests in the Auckland Suburbs seat, realising the interests of the party must be deemed paramount and that the seat cannot be won for the party with continued division, to-day met the Prime Minister, following which it was agreed to take a decision by ballot among us for the selection of one of our number. Such a one was accordingly selected in Sit James Gunson. W© all hereby agree to accept such selection, and we now ask the Prime Minister for his confirmation, and we pledge ourselves to extend all possible support to the selected candidate of the party, whose name has now been submitted to the Prime Minister." Loyalty to the Party.

The Prime Minister acceded to the request, and confirmed the candidature of Sir James Gnnson. Mr. Coates congratulated the candidates on meeting in conference and agreeing to" settle their differences ip such an honourable and reasonable manner. It was striking and refreshing to see such party loyalty, and he hoped, it would be an object lesson to others who might think of being insistent and so throw the election campaign from a party view into chaos by vote-splitting. Mr. Coates joined with the other candidates in congratulating Sir James on the choice having fallen to his lot, and wished him every success at the polls. Mr. Coates thought that, with the assistance of the other candidates and their supporters from various centres in the electorate, and the long and honoured public career of Sir James, the party might reasonably feel optimistic regarding the election result in Auckland Suburbs. The Process of Voting. Sir James Gunson thanked the other candidates for selecting him to carry the Reform banner and for their promise of support. They could rely upon him putting his best efforts into the campaign. It was explained later that the selection was made by the votes of the four candidates, each of whom undertook that he would not vote for himself. Asked whether any progress had been made in thinning the field at Roskill, where three aspirants for the Reform nomination have been announced, the Prime Minister said there was nothing to report.

AUCKLAND EAST CONTEST. MRS. MAGUIRE'S CANDIDATURE. There was an attendance of about 200 in St. Paul's schoolroom last evening, when Reform, supporters met to further the interests of Mrs. C. E. Maguiro's candidature for Auckland East. A majority of those present were women. Mrs. Maguire said there were two things which prompted her to enter politics, the woman's movement and appreciation of the Reform Party's platform. " The woman's movement is a little backward in New Zealand, for although we have had the franchise since 1893 we have not yet had a woman in Parliament," she added. "It is time for us to wake up and realise our principles. I think the women have shirked their responsibilities long enough." A resolution was.carried expressing confidence in the candidate. A further resolution that the Prime Minister should be approached to appoint Mrs. Maguire as the official candidate met with some opposition among the men present, two of whom stated they first desired to hear the candidate upon vital questions of Government. The resolution was finally carried.

BAY OP PLENTY DISTRICT. LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J OPOTIKI, Monday. Mr. W. A. Moncur, secretary of the Whakatano branch of the Labour Party, returned to Opotiki yesterday from the coast and said it was definite that he would contest the Bay of Plenty seat at the general election in the interests of the Labour Party. It is intended to hold a meeting next week to form a branch of the Labour Party in Opotiki,