THE EDUCATION MINISTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 8

THE EDUCATION MINISTER

INTERESTING SUGGESTION MAY FACE THE ELECTORS I ~~ (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Ail impression is gaining ground in Parliamentary circles that the Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, may resign his seat in the Legislative Council to contest one of the Taranaki seats as the oliicial Coalition candidate.Since Mr. Masters’ assumption of Cabinet rank there has been much criticism of the transference of so important a portfolio as Education to the Upper House, and it is an open secret that the admission to Cabinet of the late leader of the Legislative Council was resented by a section of the United Party. It is now suggested in the lobby that the. selection provides Mr. Masters with an opportunity to silence criticism by allowing himself to be nominated as a Coalition candidate. Egmout, at present held by Mr. 0. A. Wilkinson, an Independent, a bitter opponent of the Coalition, is mentioned as the seat likely to be contested. One of the obstacles in the way, however, is the appearance in the lists of a Reform nominee, Mr - . F. Gawitli, whose candidature was announced some months ago, hut it is stated that an adjustment could be made should Mr. Masters decide to stand. Mr. Masters represented Stratford in Parliament from 1919 to 1925, when he was unseated by Mr. E’. Walter, Reform, who at the 1928 election was defeated by the present Independent member, Mr W. J. Poison.