THE INVERCARGILL SEAT

Southland Times, Issue 20614, 12 October 1928, Page 6

THE INVERCARGILL SEAT

From a communication received in this office it would seem that our editorial reference to the recent developments in the Invercargill electorate gave the impression in some quarters that Colonel Hargest had been asked to withdraw his candidature. That, of course, was not the case. Colonel ■ Hargest informed the Invercargill Branch i of the Reform Party a long time ago that 1 he did not desire to contest the seat this ‘ year, and the branch respected his wishes. Those who are personally acquainted with ■ Colonel Hargest quite understand the posi- : tion, and it Is only to prevent the cir- ‘ culation of a wrong impression arising from what seems to have been a careless phrase that we make this further reference to the , matter. It is to be noted, too, that Mr David McDougall, who has been invited to : contest the Mataura electorate by the United Party, has referred to some understanding respecting the Mataura and Invercargill seats. It seems to us that Mr McDougall must have misunderstood the position, but if any unofficial arrangement was suggested it was clearly vitiated by Sir Joseph Ward's acceptance of the leadership of the United Party.