ELECTION RUMORS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17612, 30 October 1931, Page 5

ELECTION RUMORS

UPPER HOUSE SEATS NO PROMISES TO CANDIDATES (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A definite assurance that appointment to the Upper House iiad not been, and would not be, held out as an inducement to candidates to withdraw from election contests in the interests of Coalition adjustments was given to the House by the Prime Minister, the lit. Hoii. G. W. Forties. According to Mr. H. E. Holland, Leaden of tho Opposition, it had been freely stated that candidates were being induced to stand down on the strength of promise of appointment to the Legislative Council. “Neither I, nor anyone else, has the right to question the arrangements made by the Government Parties regarding candidates,” added Mr Holland, “but I think it would considerably relieve the position if the Prime Minister would state definitely that none of the gentlemen now retiring from candidature will be appointed to the Upper House in the event of Coalition coining back victors from the election, it is disquieting to hear rumors current concerning arrangements being made in that connection, and if the Prime Minister will make the statement I have asked for we will accept it unreservedly." The Prime Minister observed that rumor was very busy at present, as was always the case just before an election. “I wish to state definitely,” he went on, “that no inducement of any description has been offered to any candidate to withdraw, and no promise has been made of any appointments to the Legislative Council. Where candidates withdraw they do so unreservedly in accordance with their sense of duty to tho country as they see it, and on that ground alone. There is no promise of any description in regard to Upper House appointments, nor will there be.” (Hear, hear.)