GREY LYNN SEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23148, 21 September 1938, Page 14

GREY LYNN SEAT

NATIONAL CANDIDATE MR. J. A. GOVAN CHOSEN TEACHER AND ENGINEER THREE NAMES IN BALLOT A ballot held last night resulted in tlie selection of Mr. •). A. (?ovan as the New Zealand National Party's candidate for the Grey Lynn seat at the approaching general election. Mr. J. A. Lee. Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, is the present Government member for tho electorate. Three candidates for selection presented themselves to a meeting of party members last night. ]n addition to Mr. Govan there were Mr. G. V. Mullenger, who was recently unsuccessful in tho Auckland West ballot, and Mr. .J. A. C. MeCormack, who had formerly announced his intention of contesting Grey Lynn as an Independent. Each of tho candidates addressed the meeting for a short time before voting was held. Two ballots wero conducted, one of tho candidates being eliminated in the first. Mr. George Mills, chairman of tho Auckland division of the party, presided.

Mr. Govan was born at Coromandel in 1896 and later entered the teaching profession. He was in charge of a school in North Auckland, when the Great "War broke out. Enlisting at the ago of ISA, ho.served with the New Zealand Infantry in Egypt and France, where ho was wounded. "When he returned to New Zealand lie took up engineering and for nine years was on the staff of an .Auckland linn. War injuries, however, caused him to resign. in addition to being chairman of the Grey Lynn branch of the Citizens and Ratepayers' Association, Mr. Govan has been president and secretary of the Grcv Lynn Returned Soldiers' Social Club, president of the Auckland Friendly Societies' Conference, president of the medical institute of that organisation and vice-president of the dispensary. At the 10.35 election he contested the Auckland West seat as a member of the Democrat Party. Mr. Lee obtained a majority of 8012 in a four-cornered contest in 1935. The polling was as follows:—Mr. Lee. 0828; Mr. G. I. W ildish (National), 1816; Mr. H. B. M. Arthur (Democrat), 1200; Mr. LI. Smith (C .'ommunist), 210.