DEPLETED RANKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 14

DEPLETED RANKS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT APPOINTMENTS SUGGESTED AUCKLANDERS "With tho approach of the first session of Parliament under the Labour Government there arises the question of what appointments are to be made to the depleted ranks of the Legislative Council. Speculation has been rifo for some time and ci number of Aucklandors have been named as prospective members. The strength of the Legislative Council is now 31, Compared with 41 ten years ago. Two reappointments were made in September, those of the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass and the Hon. W. H. McIntyre, both of Nelson, for further terms of seven years. No members are due to retire until June of next year, when the appointment of six councillors will come up for review. With the advent of the Labour Party to power it is thought that several appointments will be made in the near future, but some Aucklanders whose names have been mentioned put the suggestion down mostly to rumour. As one of them said: "There have been hundreds of names mentioned but I do not think any of them have been approached." Among those suggested as likely to be approached are Mr. E. J. Phelan, a member of the City Council for a number of years, Mr. George Davis, a former member of the City Council, and Mr. F. N. Bartram, Labour M.P. for Grey Lynn from 1919 to 1928 and a former member of tho City Council. While not denying that he had been approached, Mr. Bartram said he did not feel justified in saying anything at the present time. Both Mr. Phelan and Mr. Davis said they had not been approached, although Mr. Davis said he knew his name had been mentioned in connection with the appointments. Another Aucklander who had been rumoured as a prospective councillor said: "There seems to be about a thousand in for it."