THE EGMONT DISTRICT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 4

THE EGMONT DISTRICT

The press dispatches are mentioning the matter of a United Labor Party candidate in the Egmout electorate. The United Labor Party nominates all candidates in one of two ways. Either by vote of tho labor and other organisa-

Lons allied with tho United Labor Party mr under the requisition agreement. There are no organisations in that district in alliance with tho United Labor I’.irty, lienee there could not be a nomination by that method. The requisition agreement requires timo for organisation, and the time is too brief for any effective organisation alter that manner. It dors not seem possible to make a United Labor Party nomination. Again, no ono has been mentioned as a candidate who is any way related to the United Labor Party. Surely no one will think of announcing himself as the candidate of a party to which ho does not himself belong. Those words aro not written with an obstructive purpose in view. On tho contrary, they aro written with a constructive purpose in view. It will not be necessary to explain tho method of nomination by tho veto of tho organisations concerned. Tho requisition agreement docs call for explanation. In tho Egmont district it would work out this way: An agreement would bo prepared giving a brief summary of the United Labor Party platform, and an agreement that those wh* sign it will not join in the nomination nor will they vote for any Labor candidate unless at least, say, 1500 voters in tho district shall join in tho agreement. If tho 1500 names are not secured, then no nomination is made, and all aro at liberty to vote their choice among other candidates. If th« 1500 names are secured, then a plebiscite is taken for choice of candidates, and tho one so chosen becomes tho eanelidato of the party. The advantages of this scheme aro many. First, if the names are secured that will guarantee our candidate’s election. Secondly, if the names aro not acourcd no candidate is named, and tho Labor votes will have a tremendous power in determining which one of the other candidates shall bo chosen. A nomination without first organising support may mean a certain defeat or an election on second ballots with the votes of those opposed to our platform—which always creates a most unfortunate situation. Such a nomination in any event puts into opposition to our platform many of those who could have been with us could tho platform have been presented independent of tho personal ambitious always involved, in a partisan contest.

To enter the fight when the chances of victory are all against us is to embarrass our own cause and make a later hearing more difficult. To start the requisition agreement and not get names enough to nominate can do no harm, but only good instead, because it will develop a vote independent of all other parties and compel the candidates of other parties to come our way in the campaign in their struggles to secure our support. Lot it bo understood—that no United La Party candidate will run in the Egmont district now or at any other time except regularly nominated by the organisations concerned or under the requisition. If anything is to be done, do it in the line of effective work or not at all.' The time is very short. Organisation must not be centred in one district in a hurried fight, but pushed in all the districts for tho next general election. Are you ready to nominate in the regular unfiner candidates in your district? That is the most important question.