POLITICAL ACTIVITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 12

POLITICAL ACTIVITY.

NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES. REFORM PARTY ENERGETIC. MR. McLEOD AND WAIRARAPA. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN- CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Tuwdny. In view of the uncertainty of political events within the next 12 months and the possibility of a general election taking place before the end of the full term of the sitting Parliament there is much activity among political parties in selecting candidates for the contest. The Heform Party organisation appears to bo more advanced than that of either of the two principal opposing political factions, for selections of candidates have either been made or are being negotiated. It was definitely stated to-day by the Reform headquarters offico in Wellington that all tho Wellington seats will be contested and that announcements of candidates will bo made within a month. A selection conference is being arranged and will take place very shortly in the Wellington East electorate and also in Wellington South. Mr. A. Stewart has been chosen to represent tho party in tho Rangitikei contest and Mr. Gordon Elliot, who formerly represented Oroua in tho Reform interests, has also consented to nomination as the official Reform candidate for Oroua.

Mr. T. W. Rhodes, former Reform member for Thames, who retired from the lists at the 1928 election, is the only nomination so far received from the Thames electorate. The sitting Reform member, Mr. A. M. Samuel, has intimated that he wishes to stand down on account of his health. It has also been announced that Mr. H. Do Latour will contest tho Gisborne scat in the interests of Reform, while Mr. W. H. Field is prepared to defend his seat in Otaki.

Mr. C. Todd has been selected for Con tral Otago. Tho former Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, has expressed his willingness to rccontcst, the Wairarapa scat on behalf of the Reform Party, and Mr. H. L. Tapley, Reform, said some months ago that he intended to stand for Duriedin North.

Tho Labour Party's selection ballots have been proceeding for some time. Mr. J. Thorn has been officially chosen for Otaki, Mrs. E. R. McCombs for Christchurch North and Mr. T. Brindlo for Wellington Suburbs. The sitting Wellington members have all been endorsed to defend their seats.

In the United Party interests Mr. A. B. Sievwright has declared himself for Otaki, while Messrs. A. A. McLachlan and C. S. McCully have been referred to as likely contestants of the Riccarton and Christchurch South seats respectively. Mr. W. J. Gaudin has consented to nomination for the Wellington seat, but has declined to ally himself with any party. Tho Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, is definitely in tho field for Wellington North, and ho also reserves to himself the right to support any party outside Labour.

Mr. H. I. Simson will bo an independent Liberal candidate for Napier, and Mr. S. N. Zirnan has been chosen to do battle on behalf of tho Country Party in the Waikato.