RAGLAN BY-ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 8, 10 January 1946, Page 4

RAGLAN BY-ELECTION

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES

Although a date has yet to be fixed interest is increasing in the corn.ng by-election lor the Raglan seat, whicn has been rendered vacant by the death of Mr. R. Coulter, the member for the district, says lhe New Zealand Herald. In a Held of four candidates at the 1943 general election, the issue developed into a contest between Mr. Coulter and the National Party cand.dale, Mr. R. J. Glasgow. Mr. Coulter winning by the small margin of 108 votes.

Nominations for a candidate to contest the by-eiection already have been called by the National Party. Nominations cluse at 5 p.m. on Friday. The selection o£ the candidate for the Labour Party is a matter for the national executive of the party in Wellington, alter consulting members ot tlie party in the district. It is expected that Mr. M. Moohan, president of the. national executive, will shortly visit the electoiate for this purpose. Tlie possibility that the Democratic Labour Party may also contest the seat is not being overlooked, but when its leader, Mr. J. A. Lee, was interviewed he had nothing to say. “It is better to say nothing than to say anything at this stage/’ was his remark. However, considering that his candidate at the 1943 election, Mr. A. Diilon, pilled only 289 votes, against 4817 for Mr. Coulter and 47'19 for Mr. Glasgow, the electorate does not seem to citer much hope for his party. The date of the by-election should be announced shortly. A total o( 10,126 votes was cast in Raglan at lhe 1943 general election, including 797 forces votes. Of these, Mr. Coulter secured 4817, or 48 per cent, of the valid votes recorded. There were 10.906 electors on the civilian roll and 1577 did not vote.