GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 31

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE UNITED PARTY. SELECTING A LEADER. SIR JOSEPH WARD CHOSEN. WELLINGTON, September 17. At the United Party’s conference to-day Sir Joseph Ward was offered and accepted the leadership of the party. PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL. ITS PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED. WELLINGTON, September 21. ~ E. Davy, Dominion organiser of J? ie United Party, has announced that the tollowing have been elected the Parliamentary Council of the United Party-— Messrs W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), R. Cobbe (Feilding), J. B. Donald (Auckland), V. E. Taylor (Southland), W. B. Taverner (Dunedin), W. J. Broadfoot (King Country), A. J. Stallworthy (Auckland)’&• G. Smith (New Plymouth), and A. J. Murdoch (Whangarei). ELIMINATION BALLOT.

FOUR NAMES SUBMITTED. WELLINGTON, September 17. The official report issued by the organiser of the party (Mr A. G. Davy) announces merely the selection of Sir Joseph Ward as partv leader, and gives extarcts from the speeches of congratulation. There is good authority for stating, however, that his elevation from private member in the House to leadership is the result of an elimination ballot. Four candidates were nominated for the position-—Sir Joseph Ward, Mr G. W. Forbes, present leader of the Nationalist Party, Mr W. A. Veitch, who endeavoured to bring about a Liberal revival last year, and Mr E. A. Ransom, the member for Pahiatua and Whip of the Nationalist Party. According to information which has reached the lobbies Mr Veitch’s name was eliminated at the first ballot, and Mr Forbes became a casualty at the second trial of strength. The choice then rested between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Ransom, and as only one vote separated them Mr Ransom retired in favour of the more experienced politician and called on the remainder of the members of the conference to give Sir Joseph their support. A ballot, however, was insisted on, resulting in the selection of Sir Joseph Ward. The official statement reports that the positions of deputy leaders of the party have been filled without disclosing the personnel. This information is, however, freely available in the lobbies. Mr Ransom was appointed the deputy leader for the North Island and Mr Forbes to a similar position in the South Island. Mr Veitch was appointed president of the executive. Members of the House, with whom these appointments were discussed suggest that in making them the conference has gone out of its way to placate all the nominees for office. When approached for confirmation of an assertion that the appoint, ment of Sir Joseph was a temporary one, Mr Veitch said it was made without qualification, and that he intended to follow Sir Joseph as leader.-

UNITED CANDIDATE FOR W AIR AU. BLENHEIM, September 17. Mr E. F. Healy, previously announced as the Liberal-Labour candidate for the Wairau seat at the General Election, has received the backing of the United Party. THE FRANKLIN SEAT. MR E. D. MCLENNAN RETIRES. AUCKLAND, September 18. Mr E. D. M'Lennan, M.P., for Franklin, announced to a meeting of party supporters at Waiuku to-day that acting under medical advice he had decided not to contest the seat at the general election. A party conference will be held at Pukekohe in two weeks’ time to nominate the official Reform candidate for the seat. THE MID-CANTERBURY SEAT. - . I MR NOSWORTHY STANDS DOWN. WELLINGTON, September 19. An announcement was made by the Prime Minister to-day in regard to the Reform candidates for the Mid-Canter-,bury seat at the general election. “ I have received advice from Mr W. Nosworthy,” said Mr Coates, “ that he does not now intend to contest the seat, and consequently the arrangement made previously between Mr Nosworthy and Mr D. Jones, M.P.. will stand. The latter will therefore be the official Reform candidate. In view of Mr Nosworthy’s long period of service both to the district and tp the Dominion, I feel sure that the intimation of his retirement from the active political arena will be received with regret by his many friends. This regret, I need hardly say, is shared by myself and by my other colleagues in the Government. I may point out, however, that a very large portion of the Ellesmere electorate has been included in the new Mid-Canterbury district, and that in the present member for Ellesmere the electors-of Mid-Canterbury will have as the Government candidate a man who, by his wide public experience,- would worthily represent them in Parliament.” A TEACHER CANDIDATE. GRANTED LEAVE WITHOUT PAY. AUCKLAND,. September 19. It is the opinion of the Auckland Education Board that two weeks' is not enough in which to fight an election. At to-day’s meeting of the board * teacher

applied for a fortnight’s leave, as he wished to stand for Parliament. Mr Burns (the chairman): I don’t think two weeks is sufficient. Mr Banks: Give him two months without pay. A member: Give him three months, and that, with the holidays, will take him up to February next. Mr Burns: I’m not thinking of the teacher. I’m thinking of the children. Voices: So are we. A member: He can’t pay attention to his job and fight an election at the same time. The children will be neglected. It was decided to decline the request for a fortnight’s leave, and grant two months without pay. AUCKLAND WEST SEAT. AUCKLAND, September 20. Mr Frank Adeane has been selected as the Reform Party candidate for the Auckland W est seat. He was born at Gisborne 28 years ago, and has resided at Ponsonby practically all his life. He is keenly interested in sport, friendly society work, and in musical and elocutionary competitions. MANAWATU SEAT. Mr P. J. Small has been appointed official candidate for the United Party for the Manawatu electorate. MID-CANTERBURY AND THAMES. WELLINGTON, September 20. The secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party (Mr W. Nash) announced to-day that Mr Morgan Williams, a farmer, has been selected as the Labour candidate for the Mid-Canterbury electorate. Mr J. S. Montgomery, a farmer, has been selected as the candidate for the Thames seat. MANUKAU SEAT. AUCKLAND, September 20. Reform supporters in the Manukau electorate have selected Mr Bertram Bunn to contest the seat as the official candidate. Mr Bunn retired from the Auckland Suburbs contest in favour of Sir James Gunson. AUCKLAND ELECTORATES. WELLINGTON, September 21. The Prime Minister to-night gave his endorsement in the interests of the Reform Party of the candidature of Mr Frank Adeane for the Auckland West seat and of Mr Bertram Bunn for the Manakau seat.