MR. SAVAGE'S SEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 15

MR. SAVAGE'S SEAT

NATIONAL OPPONENT

MR. H. M. BAGNALL CHOSEN TRANSPORT FIRM MANAGER FIRST BALLOT MAJORITY Subject to the approval of the national headquarters of the party, Mr. H. M. Bagnall has been selected as the National Party's candidate for the Auckland West seat at the general election. The seat is at present held by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. At a meeting of National Party supporters last night, Mr. Bagnall, Mr. E. D. Stallworthy and Mr. G. V. .Mullinger presented themselves for selection as the candidate. It had been arranged to eliminate one man at the first ballot and another at a second ballot, but Mr. Bagnall received an outright majority at the first polling. Over 300 votes were recorded. In 1935 Mr. Savage polled 8567 rotes, Mr. E. D. Stallworthy, 2387, and Mr. J. A. Govan, standing as a Democrat. 792. Mr. Bagnall was born in Auckland in 1903, berng a member of a family with a long association with Auckland local body politics. One uncle, the late Mr. L. J. Bagnall, was formerly Mayor of Auckland, and another uncle, Mr. H.

W. Bagnall, was a city councillor. Mr. Bagnall received his education at'Turua, Thames and Auckland. For the past 10 years he has been associated with the transport industry and he is at present manager of the White Star office in Auckland.

THE BAY OF PLENTY MIL MERRY'S DECISION WITHDRAWAL ANNOUNCED AVOIDING VOTE-SPLITTING [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] OPOTIKI, Tuesday A decision not to contest the Bay of Plenty seat at the general election has been -reached by Mr. J. T. Merry, who stood at the last election in the interests of the National Party, and who some months ago announced his intention of standing as an Independent candidate.

Mr. Merry stated this afternoon that after carefully considering the position he had corne to the conclusion that a three-cornered contest would only result in a win for the sitting .member, Mr. A. G. Hultquist (Labour). With a desire to place country before party he had .therefore decided to withdraw from the contest on this occasion.