HURUNUI SEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 10

HURUNUI SEAT

Candidates For Nomination

Mr W. W. Wood, a Rangiora businessman, agreed to seek nomination as the National Party candidate for Hurunui after he was approached by a delegation on Thursday evening. Mr W. F. Ashe, a farmer with property at Flaxton and Okuku, said yesterday that he would also allow h:s name to be put forward. Mr Wood, aged 53. is a land agent and bookseller. For four years he was chairman of the Fernside School Committee and is a former chairman of the Fernside Parent - Teacher Association. He is vice-chairman of the Rangiora High School Parentteacher Association. Mr Wood is a member of Federated Farmers, and for three years was member of the committee of the Rangiora branch of the National Party. He is a member of the Rotary Club and the Rangiora Businessmen's Association. During the war Mr Wood served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a fighter pilot in Britain, the Middle East, India, and Burma. Between 1944 and 1958 he served with the Air Training Corps in Oamaru and then in Rangiora. Before establishing himself in Rangiora Mr Wood had several businesses in Oamaru. In 1947 he had three shops in Oamaru known as the North Oama.u Service Stores. In 1953 he purchased a 23-acre farm at Fernside. He disposed of most of this as he developed his commercial interests m Rangiora. Mr Ashe has been a member of the National Party since it was formed in 1936, and stood for the old Kaiapoi electorate about 22 years ago. Born in Timaru. Mr Ashe, who is 53. became a prominent farmer at Okuku. He settled in the area in 1917, and during the war vears was chairman of the Ohoka and Districts Primary Production Committee., In 1942 he purchased his present propertv at Flaxton, and in 1956 bought an additional 1000 acres at Okuku for development as a sheep farm. For six years Mr Ashe was a member of the Eyre County Council, and is now a member of the Ashley Rabbit Board. He has been a member of Federated Farmers since the organisation's inception. and before that was a member of the Farmers’ Union. During a long association with the Rangiora High School, which he attended as a pupil. Mr Ashe has served as chairman of its parentteacher organisation, and hi.', juat commenced his fifth term as the former pupils’ representative on the high school board, of which he is a past chairman. Mr Ashe was chairman of the jubilee committee in 1959. Mr Ashe has also served on the Southbrook School Committee.