DEMOCRAT PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 12

DEMOCRAT PARTY

DEBATE ON POLICY CONFERENCE CONTINUES SELECTING THE LEADER SEVERAL NAMES MENTIONED [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL HErORTF.nI WELLINGTON, Thursday No finality m the selection of a leader and the formulation of a complete policy has yet been reached by the Democrat Party candidates, who continued their conference in Wellington to-day. Sub-committees which were appointed yesterday to attend to matters of detail in the framing of a policy continued their deliberations to-day and reported to tho full conference this evening. The conference sat until a late hour and it was gathered that there was considerable discussion on certain policy issues, although the Dominion organiser, Mr. A. E. Davy, said that " a sweet reasonableness" prevailed. The attendance to-day was augmented by the arrival of threo more candidates, but Sir Alexander Herdman was not present. No statement could bo obtained concerning his relations with the party and of those actually attending the conference it is thought the choice of a leader will probably be made from Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mayor- of Wellington, who has acted as chairman; Dr. G. J. Adams, of Wanganui, who is deputy-chairman; and Mr. J. B. Donald, of Auckland. Owing to illness in his family Mr. Donald had to leave for Auckland by tho express to-night. The election of the party leaddr remains the last item on the conference agenda,, and according to Mr. Davy, matters; of policy will still bo left for discussion to-morrow morning. The conference is not likely to conclude before to-morrow afternoon and it is possible a statement will then bo issued by the elected leader of tho party. In a telegram from Wellington concerning the Democrat Party conference, published in yesto "day's Herald, it was stated in error that Mr. J. B. Donald was defeated for Auckland East at the 1931. general election. Mr. Donald was elected to Parliament in 1928 and did not seek re-election in 1931. He was Postmaster-General from December, 1928, until his retirement from Parliament. WAITEMATA SEAT NATIONAL INTERESTS A deputation of Takapuna and Devonport residents waited on Lieute-nant-Colonel It. H. Marryatt, of Oratia, yesterday afternoon and requested him to offer his services as a National candidate for the Waitemata seat. Lieu-tenant-Colonel Marryatt, who contested tho Auckland Suburbs seat as a Coalition candidate at the last general election, promised to announce his decision in the near future. Three other names mentioned as possible National Party candidates for the Waitemata seat are those of Messrs. A. G. Quartley, Ewen W. Alison, jun., and A. Macgregor. The names have been forwarded to the Auckland headquarters of the party, and a selection ballot will be held in about three weeks. BAY OF PLENTY ROLL DROP IN NUMBER OF VOTERS [by ' TELEGRArn OWN CORRESPONDENT] OPOTIKI, Thursday Tho main roll for the Bay of Plenty electorate has closed with 7771 names, as against 8261 on the 1931 roll. Tho drop in numbers has been causqd as tho result of a thorough cleansing of tho roll, although a good many names have been added by young people coming of ago and new arrivals in the district. KAIAPOI CANDIDATE SIR A. HERDMAN CRITICISED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHUUCH, Thursday It is announced that Mr. A. A. McLachlan, who unsuccessfully contested the Riccarton seat in 1928 and 1931, has decided to stand for the Kaiapoi seat at the general election this year as a National Liberal candidate. In acceding to the request by a deputation of 50, Mr. McLachlan criticised the remarks of Sir Alexander Herdman made in Auckland recently, expressing the opinion that they contained too much party bitterness at a time when the utmost co-operation was needed. He said there was a need for complete abandonment of the old party The present member for Kaiapoi is Mr. R. W. Hawke, a Government representative. MAYOR OF INVERCARGILL NATIONAL PARTY'S SELECTION [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL, Thursday At a representative meeting of the Invercargill branch of the National Political Federation this evening the Mayor, M r - John Miller, was unanimously selected as the Nationalist candidate for the Invercargill seat at the general election. The seat is at present held by Mr. J. Hargest, a Government member, who has announced his intention to stand for the Awarua seat, following upon the pending retirement of Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle.