FUSION PLAN REJECTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 10

FUSION PLAN REJECTED.

POLITICS IN INVERCAFIGILL. UNITED CANDIDATE CHOSENT [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] INVERCARGILL. Tuesday. The political situation in InvercargilJ is very interesting. When Mr. W. Hargest. was ebosen to contest Mataura in the Reform interests the suggestion was made that the fusion idea might be tested locally, because with the announcement that 'Mr. Vincent Ward, the present member, would not seek re-election, the field was clear for a joint candidate. It is understood the local committees met, but the United Party representatives were accompanied by "Mr. W. McChesney as the selected United candidate. Other meetings were held, and a final one to-day when the idea was abandoned. Within two hours Mr. McChesney was announced as the United candidate, endorsed by the party, headquarters nt Wellington. He has been Mayor of South Invercargill for over six years. Mr. William Denham's name has been before the Wellington headquarters of the Labour Party, but it is now confidently reported that Mr. John Miller, the Mayor, will stand as an independent, and may receive the Labour support if Mr. Denham withdraws.

The Reform Party will meet in 10 days or a fortnight to choose a. candidate, but to-day no one had been approached. There is also a report that the Hon. J. Hanan is thinking of entering the field. When approached to-day and asked if there had been fusion negoticJons, Mr. A. IT. Maekrell said: "There has been some fusion talk, bub I can't tell you anything. Mr. McChesney has been officially selected as the United candidate. That is all." It is believed thai; as Mr. McChesnev was announced as the candidate, witii Wellington approval, within.two hours of negotiations ending, ho was the chosen candidate while negotiations were proceeding. Reform supporters decline to say anything, ' but it is understood the initial invitations regarding fusion, came from them./

LABOUR PARTY IN DUNEDIN. SELECTION OF CANDIDATES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Tuesday. New nominations have been called for by the Otago Labour Representation Committee for the Dunedin South, Central and West seats. Mr. J| W. Munro, the sitting member, and Mr. Campbell have already been selected to contest the Dunedin North and Port Chalmers seats respectively. It is considered likely that Mr. Jones will contest Dunedin West agairist the Hon. Downie Stewart and Mr. Robinson Dunedin South against the Hon. W. B. Taverner. Both are prominent Labour leaders. Sir Charles Statham, Speaker of the House of Representatives, will again contest Dunedin Central.