“NO BARGAIN MADE FOR HURUNUI SEAT.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 173, 23 July 1931, Page 7

“NO BARGAIN MADE FOR HURUNUI SEAT.”

SUSPICIONS OF LABOUR MEMBER DISCOUNTED. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 22. The decision of Hurunui Reformers that an official Reform candidate should not be entered against the Prime Minister at the general election has aroused considerable interest in political circles, and a question on the subject has already been tabled in the House. When approached to-day Mr Forbes was disinclined to comment on the matter, on the ground that he had had no intimation from official quarters of the proposal reported to have been made by Hurunui Reform supporters. On inquiry at national headquarters of the Reform Party it was learned that the selection of an official Reform candidate for Hurunui was purely in the hands of the Canterbury divisional executive and the Hurunui electorate. It was made clear that there was no thought whatever of any reciprocal arrangement or “ bargain ” regarding the seat of the leader of the Opposition. The impression, therefore, is that national headquarters approve of the decision that no official nominee should be entered against the Prime Minister. Question to be Asked. In the House Mr C. Carr (Labour, Timaru) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether lie had read a newspaper report that the president of the Canterbury divisional executive of the Reform Party, in a letter, urged that Reform should not contest the ITurunui seat, nor United the Kaipara scat, in view of the long Parliamentary experience of the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition. lie invited Mr Forbes to make a public statement concerning his attitude towards that proposal and the extent to which negotiations had proceeded in that and similar directions.