RAGLAN SEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26045, 8 January 1946, Page 4

RAGLAN SEAT

BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN NATIONAL PARTY ACTIVITY (Special) AUCKLAND, Jan. 7 Although the date has yet to be fixed, interest is increasing in the coming by-election for the Raglan seat, which has been rendered vacant by the death of Mr R. Coulter, Labour members for the district. In a field of four candidates at the 1943 general election the issue developed into a contest between Mr Coulter and the National Party candidate, Mr R.. J. Glasgow, Mr Coulter eventually winning by the small margin of 108 votes. Nominations for a candidate to contest the by-election have already been called by the National Party, and these will close at 5 p.m. on Friday. The selection of a candidate for the Labour Party is a matter for the national executive of the party in Wellington, after consulting members of the party in the district. It is expected that Mr M Moohan, president of the national executive, will shortly visit the electorate for this purpose. The possibility that the Democratic Labour Party may contest the seat is not being overlooked, but when its leader, Mr J. A. Lee, was interviewed he had nothing to say. “It is better to say nothing than to say anything at this stage,” was his remark. Considering, however, that his candidate at the 1943 election, Mr A. Dillon, polled only 289 votes compared with 4817 for Mr Coulter and 4709 for Mr Glasgow, the electorate does not seem to offer much hope for his party. The date of the by-election should be announced shortly. A total of 10,126 votes was cast in Raglan at the 1943 general election, including 797 forces’ votes. Of these, Mr Coulter secured 4817, or 48 per cent, of the valid votes recorded. There were 10,906 electors on the civilian roll and 1577 did not vote.