INVERCARGILL SEAT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18620, 16 July 1930, Page 7

INVERCARGILL SEAT.

MR VINCENT WARD A CANDIDATE. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 15. The Prime Minister announced today that the Invercargill Committee of the United Party had unanimously selected Mr Vincent Ward to contest the seat of his father at the byelection. The Prime Minister (Hon. G. W. Forbes) states that it was the wish of the late Prime Minister that one of his sons should place himself at the disposal of the people of Invercargill. “I am very glad that the Committee has approved of Mr Vincent Ward’s candidature. I have been brought into fairly close association with him whilst he acted, as private secretary for his father during Sir Joseph Ward’s long illness, and I came to form a very high opinion of his capacity and of the judgment and tact which he exercised in many difficult interviews on behalf of his father. He showed a thorough grasp of public affairs, and I feel certain that he will represent Invercargill with credit to himself and the constituency.” LABOUR CANDIDATE. Reports that the Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev. J. K. Archer) is likely to contest the Invercargill seat at the forthcoming by-election in the Labour interest, are accepted with a good deal of reserve in Labour circles in Christchurch (says “The Sun”). It is considered in some quarters that there might be some significance in the fact that Mr Archer will not return from his visit to Invercargill for a day or two, but there is reason to believe that his delay has nothing to do with the Invercargill by-election. Mr Archer’s chances of winning the seat are not considered very favourable in Christchurch, even in Labour circles. The general opinion is that if Mr Vincent Ward, second son of the late Prime Minister, were to stand as the United candidate, no Labour man could defeat him. A Christchurch business man who had just returned from Invercargill told a reporter that the general impression down there was that Mr Ward would stand, and that the other Parties would give him a"“walk-over.” An Invercargill Labour man who is mentioned as a possible candidate is Mr T. O’Byrne, a member of the Invercargill Borough Council, and a Labour supporter of many years standing. It is not considered likely, however, that he would accept nomination. Mr Archer contested the Invercargill seat in 1919, when he was defeated by Mr J. A. Hanan (Liberal), polling 3355 votes against his opponent's 4758. He lived in Invercargill some time before coming to Christchurch.