PARNELL BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20521, 24 March 1930, Page 10

PARNELL BY-ELECTION.

ALL PARTIES. ORGANISING. ARRANGING CANDIDATES. NO OFFICIAL MOVES YET. UNITEDS DISCUSS SITUATION. Activity in all political camps has rapidly followed the decision of Mr. H. R. Jenkins to resign his seat as member for Parnoll and appeal to the electors on a different platform. It is generally believed that the by-election will give a direct line on political thought and feeling throughout New Zealand, and, with that aspect in mind, tho three principal parties may bo expected to act with discriminating care before placing the official hallmark on their respective candidates. Within the next 10 days or so it is probablo that the men to carry the party standards will be chosen, and all organisations will be in trim for what bears all the appearances of being a willing contest.

Already rumour is busy with a dozen names of candidates, but speculation is far in advance of executive decisions, and it will be several days before the position as to candidates is in any way clarified. All the moves are still behind the scenes, and those moves are still in the embryonic stages. Activities o! Parties. The Auckland provincial executive of the United Party met on Saturday, and it was later stated that there would bo no dearth of aspirants for the party nomination. A selection will probably be made on Friday. No date has yet been indicated for the conference of delegates at which the Reform candidate will be chosen. However, tho organisation is ready to proceed with the preliminaries necessary to that end. The Labour Representation Committee has called a meeting for to-morrow evening to discuss the selection of the Labour candidate.

The present position is that Mr. Jenkins, who won Parnell for the United Party at the general elections, will resubmit himself to 'the electors, his decision to do so being the outcome of his break with the Government. He has indicated the possibility of his being willing to stand in the Reform interests. Failing that, ho will stand as an independent Reformer or a straight-out Independent. Mr. J. S. Dickson, who was defeated by Mr. Jenkins in 1928, has also stated his determination to stand, either with or without the official stamp of the Reform Party on his candidature. It remains to be seen whether the Reform Party will accept either Mr. Jenkins or Mr. Dickson, or whether it will decide on another candidate. The United Candidate. It is understood that the names of five well-known men who were willing to contest the seat in the United Party interests were mentioned at a meeting of the Auckland provincial executive of the United Political Party on Saturday. The official selection will probably be made at a further meeting (o be held on Friday. It was stated that purely organisation matters were discussed on Saturday, and further meetings will be held this week to make arrangements for the conduct of the campaign. After the meeting, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy and the Hon. J. C. Donald discussed various organisation matters with officials of the branch. Tho opinion was expressed that there would bo no difficulty in finding a suitable .candidate. It was slated that a spirit of optimism was evident at the meeting, and members were confident that the seat would be retained for tho Government. Mr. T. U. Wells, whose name has been mentioned as a possible United candidate, stated last evening that he had definitely no intention of standing. Mr. Wells was chairman of Mr. Jenkins' organisation committee at the last election. Labour Meeting To-morrow. A meeting of tho executive of the Labour Representation Committee has linen called for to-morrow evening. Although the consideration of Labour's position with regard to the by-election is not tho original purpose of tho meeting, this matter will be considered. So far no definite steps have been taken by the committee toward selecting a candidate. Nominations of candidates wjll be invited by the committee, returnable within a certain time.

The usual proceduro under the Labour Party's rules is for ballots to he held throughout the electoral district, at which all unionists affiliated with the committee who are electors of the district are entitled to vote. This procedure is a somewhat lengthy one, and provision is inado in the rules for the dispensing of tho ballot in times of emergency. Under such circumstances the nominations are submitted to the national • executive, which, in conjunction with the local committee, makes the selection. The Auckland committee has been in consultation with the national executivW during tho week-end, and it will probably' be known to-morrow evening whether the! emergency steps will be taken or whether the usual, procedure will be follower}! There is a possibility that, the formcj course will be adopted.

The local committee was more or less "caught napping" by the sudden turn df events in Parnell. The Labour Representation Committees in Wellington and Christchurch have already selected their candidates for the noxt genernl election, but the local committee decided to defer action until after tho conference of the New .Zealand Labour Party at Eastor. Mr. J. W. Farnall, who contested the Parnell seat in 1928, is seeking the Labour nomination, and present indications are that other aspirants for tho Labour candidature will come forward.

REVISING THE ROLL. BY-ELECTION PREPARATIONS VOTING DAY POSTS FILLED. Although the vacancy for the Parncll scat lias not yet been officially notified (here has been no lack of initiative on the part 'of those anxious to secure engagements as deputy-returning officers at the various booths on election day. 'i-ho returning officer for Parncll, Mr. ( W. Lovell, had numerous applications on Saturday inoVning and before the hour for closing the office all the posts had been filled. A sign to that effect was posted in a prominent position outside to dissuade further applicants. Prior'to the holding of the by-election tho registrar of electors in Auckland will bo ongaged in tho work of bringing up to date tho roll used at tho general election. The names of those removed from the Parnell district will be struck out and ne\v enrolments will be entered. A supplementary roll will also bo issued. Applications for enrolment should be made at once, forms being obtainable from the registrar or from any post office. The qualifications for enrolment are 12 months' residence in New Zealand and throe months' residence in Parnell, dating from the time of application for enrolment. There is an obligation upon those uot now in the electorate to notify change of address within three months, one month's grace being allowed. Notification should be made now.