MR HARGEST’S STATEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 25362, 14 August 1935, Page 6

MR HARGEST’S STATEMENT

Mr Hargest’s explanation of the circumstances of his decision to contest the Awarua seat at the coming election is the frank statement of a man who realizes that as a farmer and an elector of Awarua he would find in that constituency certain well-defined attractions, and who sees that in the political field the farmer who represents a city may be easily misunderstood. Mr Hargest had good reason for feeling confident of the outcome of a contest in Invercargill, where his capacity during the past four years has strengthened his hold on public respect, but his decision to move to the neighbouring electorate following on the announcement by Mr de la Perrelle that he would not seek re-election, has evidently been influenced to some extent by the hope that the two wings of the Nationalist Party would find it easier to choose a candidate who had not been engaged in a contest in which the two wings had been antagonists. Mr Hargest has been an energetic and capable member, and the fact that he is looked on as one of the

strong men of the House is an indication of his rapid political developihent. He has been zealous in the discharge of his duties as the member for Invercargill, and he has given also keen attention to public matters of concern to the province, so that he has effectively combined duties for Southland and its capital. Many people in the city will regret his decision to transfer to the Awarua electorate, but they will realize that his explanation of the reasons for taking this step discloses convictions reached after earnest consideration. As Mr Hargest has said, the opportunity is now open for the selection of a candidate who will be acceptable to the two wings constituting the Nationalist Party wholly disassociated from any suggestion of old political antagonisms engendered by election contests, and it is to be hoped that the plea for mutual understanding that he has made will be put into effect.