GENERAL ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION

AUCKLAND EAST SEAT REFORM PARTY NOMINEE SIR G. RICHARDSON ACCEPTS. AUCKLAND, Aug. .13. Acceptance of the invitations uf lie form Party supporters to be the party’> candidate in Auckland East at the general election was conveyed by SL r George Richardson to the president of the Reform League, Mr G. 11. Wilson, i yesterday. “While I have never previously on tertained the slightest desire to cntei i political life, it appears to be not onlj ’ the wish of a large section of citizens that I should now do so, but also thvii belief that I would be able to render better service as a Parliamentary representative than asfca private citizen.’ Sir George said. ’‘Under these cir cumstanccs, and in view of the very urgent need to-day for all of us to ren dor every’ possible service to improve the economic conditions of our country, and especially to improve the lot of the unemployed, I accept the invitation to become a candidate in the interests of the Reform Party. In thus associating myself with the Reform Party, I do so because 1 conscientiously belit?ve that, in the absence of rational political unity, this party is the most cap able of dealing with the present situd tion. “In accepting this invitation I regret to find that T have apparently opposed the interests of Miss Melville, whose long and efficient public service entitles her to special consideration. 1 hope that some satisfactory arrangements may be made with Miss Melville.” Sir George Richardson, who was born England, is well known throughout New Zealand, whore he has resided, except for several period abroad, for over 40 years. He was appointed to the New Zealand defence forces as instructor in gunnery and subsequently held important offices, including Director of Artillery for the Dominion and General Officer in charge of Administration. He was New Zealand’s representative at the War Office in Loudon in 1914, up to the outbreak of war, when he served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium, where he took part in the siege of Antwerp. Latei he proceeded to Egypt and Gallipoli, and was engaged in the landing and ‘ evacuation at Cape Hollos, which he ! was promoted to Brigadier-General and ’ transferred to the Salonika Army, from whence he was recalled by the New Zealand Government to take command ' of the New Zealand Forces in England 1 and to represent New Zealand at the War Office during the latter part of the war. ? Sir George returned to the Dominion ' in 1919 and at a public reception in Auckland was the recipient of several 1 addresses, including one from the Soldiers’ Mothers’ League of the city. After the demobilisation of the Expeditionary Force Sir George was appointed Administrator of the mandated 1ritory of Western Samoa for a term ) of three years, at the conclmsion of ( which he was requested to continue in office for a further term. He left. Samoa early in 1928 and represented Netv Zealand at the League of Nations in r Geneva. Since returning to Auckland t he has interested himself in the welI fare of the unemployed and especially t the ex-service men, who interests ho , has very much at. heart.