GISBORNE SEAT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 19 February 1935, Page 6

GISBORNE SEAT

THREE NOMINATIONS? DEPUTATION TO MR. R. F. GAMBRILL EARLY ANSWER PROMISED The prospect of there being another triangular contest for the Gisborne seat at the forthcoming general elections was raised last evening when a deputation of electors waited on Mr. R. F. Gambrill with a request that he should acceptnomination. Mr. Gambrill promised to give an answer within a few days, intimating that if one or two difficulties which now stood in his way could be overcome, his answer would be in the affirmative. Two candidates for the seat are already tentatively in the field, Mr. D. W. Coleman, the sitting member, having intimated that he proposes to seek re-election, while Mr. W. D. Lysnar, formerly the Parliamentary representative of the Gisborne electorate, has likewise announced his resolve to re-enter the arena, as an Independent candidate. Should Mr. Gambrill elect to accept nomination, he ! also "will take the platform as an Independent. Mr. H. D. deLautour, of Wairoa, who at the last general elections stood for the 0 Gisborne district with the Reform Party’s official support, has given the Herald authority to state positively that he will not be a contestant at the coming elections.

The strength of last night’s deputation to Mr. R. iF. Gambrill was considerable, among those included in the gathering being Messrs. G. Matthews, T. Corson, James Blair, L. Grey Barton. R, W. J. Edwards, C. J. Bennett, H. B. JVerman, G. A. Nicholls, H. K.' Kendon, Charles Bull, R. McLean, G. T. Bull P. Hansen. A. 11. Lange, D. E. Chrisp, Athol Allan, J. 0. Musgrave, Bert Hughes, and Dr, R. M. Gunn. Expressions of support for the request made by the deputation were also forW warded by Messrs. Harry Holmes, T. . Adair, E. Upton, G. Bradley Smith, and George Smith. “MAN FORi THE JOB” The shews of the deputation were put forward by Messrs. Cbrson, Blair and Matthews, who pointed out to Mr. Gambrill that a large number of electors were anxious to secure representation in Parliament by someone outside the fold of the Labor movement, and that they felt he was the ideal man for the job. The speakers reviewed the career of the prospective candidate, and the many evidences he had given of interest in the welfare of the district, and capability far beyond the ordinary. Mr. Matthews expressed the opinidn that if Mr. Gambrill could be induced to offer himself as a candidate, and secured election, it would not be long before his gifts were recognised by his elevation to Cabinet rank. He asked that Mr-. Gambrill should consider , also giving an undertaking that he would not vote with the Opposition in the House. Expressing the gratification he felt at the honor conferred upon him by the request, Mr. Gambrill asked for a few days to consider the matter. ' He felt that there were others as well qualified as he to undertake Parliamentary duties on behalf of this district, and he realised that if he did take it up, he would be acting against his own material interests. Nevertheless, he was prepared to consider the matter, though lie would like some indication of the views of electors in the southern end of the electorate, who were entitled to consideration.

Regarding his attitude to party alignment, Mr. Gambrill added that he felt tho party system' was in the melting-pot. lie could not. well give an undertaking not to vote against the Government, though he believed he would only do so if lie were convinced that a general election was desirable in the interests of the country. If he accepted nomination and secured election, he would place the country before the district; but he assured the deputation that in matters such as the railway to Gisborne, lie believed that the interests of the country and the district were identical. He further intimated that if his answer to the deputation was in the affirmative, he would resign his post «is president of the Gisborne 'Returned Soldiers’ Association, in order not to involve that organisation in any political matter. Emphatically, he would not use his post in the association for electioneering purposes. In conclusion, Mr. Gam'brill intimated that he would endeavor to reply definitely to the deputation’s request in the course of this week.