MANUKAU ELECTORATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 14

MANUKAU ELECTORATE

FUTURE BY-ELECTION LABOUR PARTY'S POSITION Although some time will elapse before Mr. W. J. Jordan resigns the Manukau seat to proceed to London as High Commissioner, interest is already being aroused in the by-election that must follow the resignation. The Labour Party has been credited with taking initial "steps and the party's activities in the electorate have been pointed to as evidence of this. An official denial of any connection between the two was made yesterday by the secretary of the Labour Representation Committee, Mr. F. E. Martin.

"As most people know, the Labour Party is engaged on an intensive organisation plan throughout the Dominion," Mr. Martin said. "Our work in the Manukau electorate is in pursuance of this campaign only. We have not and we shall not take any steps concerning the by-election until Mr. Jordan has resigned. Under the party's rules, in the case of a by-election, the choice of the candidate to carry the Labour banner is made by the national executive. Opportunity, of course, is given to the electorate to submit nominations for the consideration of the executive. "I can say definitely that no name has yet been submitted or considered as a successor to Mr. Jordan," Mr. Martin added.

Whatever the official attitude may be some names are being mentioned in the electorate as likely candidates. Principal attention is being given to that of Mr. A. G. Osborne, who polled very well in the definitely non-Labour Parnell constituency at the general election last November. To oppose the Labour nominee, the names of Mr. J. Park, Mayor of Onehunga, and Mr. H. Jenner Wily, the Nationalist candidate at the general election, are being canvassed. To further Labour's organisation in Manukau a meeting of some CO supporttcrs was held in the Returned Soldiers' Hall, Royal Oak, when it was decided to form a branch in that district, which extends to Green Lane, Epsom. Mr. J. T. Jennings, chairman of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee, and Mr. Martin addressed tho meeting, pointing out tho necessity for the complete organisation of tho whole electorate. It was decided to form a branch and apply for registration to the national executive. The following were elected interim officers: —Chairman, Mr. C. Walker; vice-chairman, Mrs. E. M. Benfell; secretary, Mr. J. A. Gribble.