UNITED PARTY CANDIDATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18468, 21 May 1928, Page 6

UNITED PARTY CANDIDATES.

MRS T. E. TAYLOR IS NOMINEE FOR NORTH. MR W. T. LESTER WILL CONTEST LYTTELTON. The Christchurch executive of the United Party on Saturday evening selected Mrs T. E. Taylor as its candidate for Christchurch North and Mr W. T. Lester for Lyttelton. Mrs Taylor is the widow of Mr T. E. Taylor, a former member of Par liament and Mayor of Christchurch, one of the most prominent workers in the No-license cause in New Zealand, and a vigorous platform speaker. Mrs Taylor is Dominion president of the W.C.T.U., is associated with the National Council of Women, and helped in founding the Free Kindergarten in Christchurch. Mr Lester was Mayor of Lyttelton for a fairly long term, and has done much work on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, on which he is the Government nominee. MR FORBES OPTIMISTIC. Mr G. W. Forbes, acting-leader of the party, is very optimistic, as to the party’s success, in regard to both the type of its candidates and its standing with the electors. “ I have had an opportunity to meet gatherings of electors —supporters of the Reform Party, as well as members of our own organisation —in both Islands during the past few weeks,” he said last evening. “ I have found a strong feeling that a change of Government is imperative. That feeling is particularly strong in the North Island, to a lesser degree in the South Island.

“ Interference with private enterprise has created a feeling of uncertainty, which is having a detrimental effect on the investment of capital in industrial enterprise. The steady growth of the huge Government Service is commented upon very adversely. The Government’s vacillating policy in regard to social questions shows such a lamentable lack of definite principle that many of those who thought that the present Prime Minister possessed the statesmanship necessary to guide the Dominion through its difficulties are bitterly disappointed. They are joining up with the United Party in great numbers, and are confident that it will provide a responsible party that will, at next election, take the place of the present Government to the advantage of the Dominion. “The outstanding men who are coming forward as candidates for the new organisation augur well for the formation of a strong party. I do not remember at any previous election so many prominent citizens standing as candidates. Liberals throughout the Dominion are supporting the United Party whole-heartedly. “The organisation of the electorates is going ahead steadily. There is an excellent prospect of a candidate being found for every seat. Mr Davy, the organiser, and I will go south this week to meet friends and supporters in other electorates in order to select candidates, several of whom are offering.

“I believe that the election will be earlier than usual. This means a busy time from now on, in order to get things in readiness. But we will not e caught napping. There is no doubt that the new organisation’s prospects of success are exceptionally good. The Prime Minister’s recent querulous outburst against it as being a ‘disunited’ thing, lacking in policy and leadership, evidently had a nervous origin. The new movement is steadily perfecting its organisation in the different electorates. In ample time before the election it will provide a capable leader and a progressive policy, acceptable to the great bulk of the electors.” Mr A. E. Davy, the organiser, is as satisfied as Mr Forbes with the party’s candidates. He said last evening:— “ They are an excellent -type, and if the party continues to select candidates of the same standard, it will be a formid able opposition at the election.”