GISBORNE SEAT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 4

GISBORNE SEAT

SPECULATION RAMPANT GOVERNMENT nomination MR, W. D'. LYSNAR’S POSITION 11 / Speculation was rampant in Gisborne this morning, following the announcement of the Government’s decisidn to go to the country immediately after the close of the present session of Parliament. as 'to which of the possible antiLabor candidates previously named Will secure the Government nomination for the Gisborne seat. Word of vile decision of fabinet on this matter was, eagerly awaited by the respective organisations backing the' two candidates in question, and doubtless with as, much interest by the supporters of the Labor candidate, Mr. D. W. Coleman. Some months ago, when the prospects were for an election ns usual, with three parties in the field, Mr. H. l), deLatour was selected to. represent Reform in the campaign for the Gisborne electorate, cite Mr. W. D. Lysnar, the sitting member for this district, re-affirmed his stand as an Independent, with leanings towards the United Party in geneial politics. Tho later intimation that the election would not take place in the usual course resulted in the disbanding of. the Reform committees for the time being, there being every indication’at that time that the* getierul 'elections would be postponed for a year or two. . The Reform League in Gisborne Was anxious to-day to know whether it would resume organisation on behalf of -Mr : deLatttpui'P. or whether Mr. Lvsfliir -would secure; the Government nomination, in which event the-Reform votes in Gisborne would berallied to- the standard of the sitting member, in accordance with' the expressed desire of the party leader that antiLabor votes should favor the Government, nominees. ■ REFORM AND MR. LYSNAR. Tlie situation of Mr. Lysnar, as an Independent member of the House of Representatives, wus held by mqiiy Gisborne people to debar the Government from adopting liijn as an official candidate; these people supporting their argument further by pointing out that Mr. Lysnar had repeatedly expressed his objections to the Reform Party’s attitude on national questjons; and also to the inclusion of .specific members of the Reform Party iii the Coalition Cabinet. In view of the sitting member's consistent support of the United Party, it*was assumed that Mr. Forbes would be kindly disposed towards him on the question of the nomination, hiit .it was realised on the other hand that his definite break With the Reform Party .would affect his chances of receiving the nomination from the Coalition Cabinet, .which must take into adcount the fact that the Reform Party previously had nominated a candidate against Mr. Lysnar. “If Ml'. Lysnar gets the nomination, Reform supporters in this district will honor the pledge of the party leader, and will put the sitting member at tho top of the poll,” stated a prominent member of the Reform League to-day, di cussing the problem of local representation. He expressed doubt as io Mr. Lv.snar being chosen to carry the Coalition banner, however, in view of his repeated assertions of his independence. Steps were being taken to bring the campaign organisation back into being, he added, with a view to pressing on in support of tho candidate selected to contest the seat. V THE OTHER PARTIES

Tho United Party’s supporters in Gisborne were also at a loss regarding their immediate programme when a pressman * sought information this morning. Their general impression was that Mr. Lysnar’s assertion of his independence would not debar him from receiving the nomination, so far as Mr. Forbes and his immediate colleagues Were concerned, for the member for Gisborne lias shown himself consistently loyal, since his break with the Reform Party, to the aims of the Forbes Government. Whether any predisposition in his favor on the part of Mr. Forbes would be overridden by a majority of Cabinet was the question which no United supporter was prepared to answer. The only political association ih Gisborne which could name itfe candidate definitely this morning wits the Labor Representation Committee. The nomination of Mr. D. W. Coleman, decided tipoh, some time ago, has "been merely awaiting the announcement, of the date of tho election, it w’ai stated this morning, and would bo maintained regardless of the number of candidates whom Mr. Coleman would have to meet.