GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 27

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE WANGANUI SEAT. WANGANUI, August 20. Mr N. G. Lewis, a young barrister, of Wellington, has been chosen to stand for the Wanganui seat in the interests of the Reform Partv WANGANUI, August 22. Mr W. J. Rogers, Mayor of Wanganui, to-night consented to nomination as Labour candidate for the Wanganui seat at the general election. Other candidates so far announced are Mr W. A. Veitch (United Party), and Mr N. J. Lewis (Reform ). HAWKE’S BAY LABOUR CANDIDATE. NAPIER, August 20. Mr John Ljon ha s been selected as the official Labour candidate for the Hawke’s Ba}’ seat. THE MID-CANTERBURY SEAT. ASHBURTON, Aupgust 27. Doubt as to the meaning of the Hon. W. Nosworthy's previous message having arisen, a cable was sent to him, and in reply the Mayor of Ashburton (Mr Galbraith) has received the following from Quebec: —“The word /only’ was omitted from my cable, which should read: ‘ Definitely a candidate for Mid-Canter-bury only,’ meaning not available for any other electorate."

A SOLID FRONT TO LABOUR.

PRIME MINISTER’S PROPOSAL. WELLINGTON, August 21. A suggestion that the United Party should link up with the Reform Party in order to present a solid front to Labour wa s made by the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) in the course of an address at . Wanganui last night. The contest this year would be between the Reform Party and the Labour Party and its principles, he said, and there was only room for two parties. There was no room for an intermediate party. “ The suggestion reminds me of a similar proposal which was made prior to the last election,” said Mr G. W. Forbes to-day. “ That proposal was taken by the Liberals to be the expression of an honest desire on the part of the Prime Minister ■for the improvement of the political. position in regard to the two parties. However, it was soon found to be only a political dodge to prejudice the Liberal Party in the eves of the electors. This was clearly apparent when the Prime Minister stated that the Liberal Partv’s greed for portfolios was responsible for the breakdown of the negotiations. The statement was utterly unfounded and savoured of political treachery.” Mr Forbes contended that the United Party had come into existence on account of a widespread conviction that the Prim e Minister had proved a failure in his position, and that instead of guiding the affairs of the Dominion on statesmanlike lines with a definite goal in view, b had taken the line of least resistance, hoping to -please everybody. The policy of the Government was described as a weak imitation of the Labour Party’s State Socialism, and as discouraging private enterprise apd initiative. The Prime Minister was also charged with having handed over the real government of the country to the civil service. “ In view of the remarkable progress which the United Party has made I can only regard the Prime Minister’s appeal as an S.O.S. signal.” Mr Forbes added. “ While Mr Coates would like to confine . the coming contest to the Reform and Labour parties he will find that the United Party is to be reckoned with seriously. ”

The Prime Minister’s comment was terse and to the point when he was shown Mr Forbes’s statement. “ All I want to add,’’ he said, “is that the United Party’s home is with us. and if it does not come in with us it will get Knocked out.”

UNITED PARTY LEADERSHIP.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S CABLEGRAM. WELLINGTON, August 17. Sir Joseph Ward’s statement from Canada that 50 candidates of the United Party had cabled asked him to become leader of the party was news to Mr G. W. Forbes (the Acting Leader of the Party) who, it is understood, will be a candidate for the leadership of the United Party. Mr Forbes said to-day that he felt quite sure it would be found that Sir Joseph Ward had been subjected to a newspaper misinterpretation. He had not heard of any movement in the direction of asking Sir Joseph to become Leader of the United Party. The question of the leadership of the party would be determined at the conference to be held in Wellington early next month. THE STATEMENT REAFFIRMED. VANCOUVER, August 21. Sir Joseph Ward has reaffirmed the statement made at Winnipeg that he has ’ been requested ‘at the instance of 50 representative members of the United Party of New Zealand to assume the leadership. Sir Joseph will sail for New Zealand to-morrow. He stated that he would confer with the party representives on his arrival. In an interview Sir Joseph Ward said that the United Party’s invitation was contained in a cablegram which he received before he reached Winnipeg. Obviously it would not be fitting to accept the invitation yet. Upon his arrival he would be met by 50 candidates, and he would give his’answer then. He had so informed them by cable..... .’ : ; , 3

Sir Joseph Ward said he had received no communication from the leaders, and he intimated that a section of the party was opposed to his leadership. The situation was the result of a political skirmish. He had not invited the offer. Sir Joseph Ward was of the opinion that it would be a long time before the dream of Empire trade unity, as pictured by British statesmen, would be realised. Only by building and maintaining reciprocal trade within the Empire would the Commonwealth be unified.

A WOMAN CANDIDATE. AUCKLAND, August 22. The official endorsement of her candidature has been conveyed to Mrs C., E. Maguire in a letter from the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) with cordial wishes for her success. She will oppose Mr J. A. Lee for Auckland East. LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR TIMARU SEAT. CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. The Rev. Clyde Carr, a member of the Christchurch City Council, has been selected as the Labour Party’s candidate for the Timaru seat. DUNEDIN AND CHALMERS SEATS OFFICIAL LABOUR CANDIDATES. The National Executive of the New Zealand Labour Party has approved of the selection of the following candidates to contest Dunedin and Chalmers seats at the general election: — Dunedin North, Mr J. W. Munro. Dunedin South, Mr R. W. Hall. Dunedin Central, Mr J. Robinson. Dunedin West, Mr R. Harrison. Chalmers, Mr N. Campbell. DUNEDIN NORTH SEAT. Mr’ G. S. Thomson has been approached by a number of residents of the north end of the city to stand as a LiberalLabour candidate for the Dunedin North seat, and he has agreed to the request.