ELLESMERE SEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17193, 9 November 1923, Page 7

ELLESMERE SEAT.

SIR HEATON RHODES TO RETIRE. MR D. JONES A CANDIDATE In response to an invitation from a deputation representing Reform voters in Ellesmere, Mr David Jones this morning agreed to contest the Ellesmere .seat at the next general election. The request was mpdc in consequence of the fact that the sitting member, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, will not be a candidate at the next election. Mr F. A. Andrews (Rakaia) presided. and there were representatives prei sent from Methven, Meed, To Pints, ! Bankside. Dunsandel, Springston. F.l----i lesmere, Tai Tapu, Chertsey, Mitclmm, Greenpark and Bouthbridge. After expressing regret at the circumstances that made the meeting necessary, thp chairman said that a number of people in the district wanted Mr Jones to be their representative It was almost unnecessary for him to say anything about Mr Jones, because he was already known and bad given a taste of what he was capable of doing in the house. No member of Parliament had left such an impression a-fte: only three years in the House as had Mr Jones. He praised Mr Jones’s pet tinacity in connection with the meat pool. For that alone Mr Jones wiis worthy of a sent in the House. 'The position so far as a dissolution was concerned was somewhat hazy. It seemed as though, if that occurred. Sir Heaton Rhodes might have to’ stand again. He asked for a show of hands on the question that Mr Jones permit himself to be nominated at the next general election. On the show of hands being taken there was only one dissentient. Mr J Gilmour said, in explanation of not having voted for the proposal, that* lie had gone there that morning hardlv prepared to go as far as they bad gone. He had attended to hear an expression of opinion as to what was about to happen. There was another candidate in the field, and he was kith and kin of many of them. What they wanted was some guidance in the matter. They would like to be quite clear as to’ what the position would he if Mr Jones were asked to contest the seat. He had nothing against Mr Jones and would be pleased to support him if he were the candidate. Mr Hubbard said that everybody in the room would be pleased to see Air Jones in the House, but they were rather in Queer Street, at- the presenttime. He had heard Mr R. Macartney say he would contest the seat against all comers. He had no thought of Mr Jones at that time. He would be very pleased to see both of them in the House, but they could_ not both be got in for Ellesmere. Unless they could find some other place for one of them there was a danger that they would make a hash of it. Mr Jones, he knew., wquld not like (Ft stand against Mr Macartney. He thought a committee should he appointed to approach the other man and find out definitely what the position was He was pretty headstrong, and he knew none of them would care to have him in the field against Mr Junes. If that occurred, then they know what would happen. The chairman said he thought the position they were taking up was the right, one Personally he was prepared to vote for either man. but he always pioferred to pick the better man. He understood that both Mr Jones and Mr Macartney were willing to stand. He did not know if a committee had been formed to ask Mr Macartney to stand, but if there .had been it sremed that the only thing to do was to ??et b-gother and take a. vote and see which man was likely to he returned. He was sure either man would lx? prepared to abide by the verdict of the vote. He thought it would be a shame if they (.were to lose a good man like Mr Jones. Tie understood that at the end of the last election Mr Macartney had said that he would be the next member of ! Lyttelton. That was what he was go- | ing on. He thought that the people who had arranged the meeting that i morning were quite justified in their ! action. If it was found that there was I likely t-o be opposition then they must have some selection. Mr T. Stephens said the best way ) would be to call a meeting of the Rei torn Party in the electorate to select j a candidate for the next general elecCl Mr J. W. Kime said that if they did not get into the field with Mr Jones pretty soon there was another candidate in addition to Mr Macartney who lie was told would stand. Unless they got into the field they might have half a dozen candidates on top of them. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to ask Mr Jones to accept other candidates coming forward they would hear of it. If there were others who had another candidate or candij dates it was their business t-o approach the committee. He would be quite j prepared to support*Mr Macartney if | a majority said they should have him. Mr Jones expressed thanks for the invitation that had been made to him and which he had pleasure in accepting. At the last election, he said, he had not been defeated by any party, j but by a combination of interests--a. combination of the Liberal and Labour I parties. He could easily have beaten any single party in the Kaiapoi electorate. He accepted the invitation oxi tended by that very representative | meeting. He would he very glad to j serve them in any way. The follow ing committee, with power to add to its number, was set up to further the candidature of Mr Jones: — 1 Messrs \Y. Gray (Kaituna), J. Mor- ‘ gnn (Tai Tapu). J. AY. Kime <Springston). J. T. Jessep (Methven). Higlit ! ( Hororata), Richardson (Rakaia). M’Donald (Meed), Rolls (Leeston), ‘ AVilliams (Ellesmere). Wilkinson (Chertsey), T. Skevington (Bankside) and R. Johnston (Dunsandel). The chairman was appointed convenor. M .