MR JAMES J. MAHER SELECTED

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1946, Page 4

MR JAMES J. MAHER SELECTED

NATIONAL CANDIDATE FOR OfAKI SEAT Over 150 delegates representing every branch of the National Party in the Otaki electorate assembled in- Otaki la^t__ evening and selected Mr. James J.'Maher, of Mangaroa, hs the 'party's candidate to contest thet Otaki seat at the general election on November 27. An atmosphere of keen enthusiasm and confidence characterised the meeting.

There were hine nomiiiees for the seat, the other eight being Messrs. P. H. G. Bennett, of Te Hor'o, G. T. M. Blackwood, of Lower- Hutt, W. J. Crawford, of Palmerston North, A. -Daniel, of Waikanae, H. J. Eatwell, of Paraparaumu, J. E. Hickey, of Upper Hutt, S. W. Moult, of Paraparaumu and R. A. Row, of Upper Hutt. Democratic Proeedure The choice of a candidate is left entirely to the .National Party organisation in the electorate concerned, and the proeedure to tne final selection is carried out in a thoroughly democratic manner. The minimum membership required before the selection of a candidate can be proceeded with is 2000, but in the Otaki electorate there are 3400, a number which is growing daily, while the party's strength in many other electorates exceeds 4000 members. Nominations are called for and any ten financial members of the National Party may nominate a candidate for selection. After the closing date for nominations the names of those received are announced. The -next step is the calling of the meeting to select the candidate. To this each branch in the electorate sends one delegate for each of its 20 financial members. Before the meeting they receive a brief resume in printed form of the life and activities of the nominees. In this case all nine nominees had taken a prominent part in local bodies and organisations in their own towns, and had good credentials. At the meeting each nomin-ee addressed the gathering for fifteen minutes, after which ballot papers were distributed to the delegates and they voted free of will for the nominee they thought could best represent the party and serve its interests. Proceedings of Meeting In addition to the 153 delegates present, who were in an enclosure, there was an attendance of several hundred members, who had gathered to watch the proceedings, although they did not have a vote in the selection ballot. The meeting opened wih the singing of the National Anthem, after which the electorate chairman, Mr. D. P. Todd, welcomed all delegates and .members of the party. He expressed pleasure that ■there were a large number of junior members of the party present, including some from the Poroutawhao branch, which was now in the Manawatu electorate. He extended a special welcome to the delegates from Hutt and Silverstream, who were attending their initial meeting in the Otaki electorate, and td Mr. P. J. Wall, the former electorate chairfnan. Mr. Todd went on to say that he considered the meeting that evening to be the ■most important yet held, because he # believed that the candidate selected would be the new member for the Otaki electorate. He concluded by saying that the chairman for the evening would be Mr. J. L. Mcllroy, the chairman of the Wellington Division, who had rendered a fine service in that posi'tion for the last six years, and who this year would undoubtedly see his labours crowned with success. After thanking Mr. Todd for his kindly welcome, Mr. Mcllroy, who was accompanied by Mr. Thea Hills, Wellington Divisional organisingvs6eretary, '".'congratulated. the ptaki /ejectorate ,on the progress it :had Mnade, in- reeehi -nibnth^,^ an# ■at the tinfe the roll closed for the 'appointment of delegates the membership was 3075 (since then it has further increased to 3400) . That would give the new candidate a fine start. Mr. Mcllroy proceeded to outline the democratic constitution for the selection, and emphasised that each delegate had an entirely free hand in choosing the candidate. He said that was a pfivilege not lightly given, and if any delegate had been bound by a resolution of its branch, he desired them to know that they had a free hand to decide their own choice. Mr. Mcllroy mentioned the need for delegates to make a wise choice, because the candidate selected had every chance of being the electorate's representative in Parliament after the election. In conclusion he voiced appreciation to the nominees for offering their services. Addresses by Nominees At this stage the meeting pre- 1 pared for ^short addresses by each j of the nominees. A motion was J moved that the time limit be ten | minutes, but there was an amend- j ment that it be fifteen minutes. On j a vote being taken the amendment j wa's carried. Mr. Mcllroy then indicated that j all nominees had signed a pledge that in the event of their not ; being selected as the candidate, I they would not stand against the selected can&idate, or in any other |

electorate except for the National Party. ■The nominees next drew lbts for the order of speaking and then the following scrutineers Were 'elected: Messrs. D. H .Thomas, J. D. Avery, H. W. Moss and K. Geange. The nominees then addressed the meeting and this occupied two and. a-half hours. After the speeches, all of which were well received, ballot papers bearing the names of the nine candidates were distributed to the delegates, each also receiving an envelope in .wliich the paper was to be sealed before being handed over to the scrutineers. Having collected the ballot papers the scrutineers retired to count the votes. The preferential system of voting is used, in accordance with the ruies of the party. If one nominee fails to secure an outright majority over the others, the second preferences allotted to the nominee with the least number of first preferences are distributed among the others, and this process is continued until finally a straight-out majority for one nominee is reached. The "first past the post" system is thus eliminated, and it is thereby ensured that the successful candidate represents a majority opinion among delegates. While the votes were being counted supper was provided for those present by the ladies of the Otaki branch. Result Announced In less than an hour the votes had been counted and Mr. Mcllroy .announced that Mr. Maher had been selected as the candidate. Mr. Maher was warmly and enthusir astically received by the entire gathering, which sang heartily "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Among the first to congratulate him were those who had unsuccessfully stood against him, and later he received a host of congratulations. Mr. Maher was greeted with sustained applause when he rose to speak. He first of all thanked the delegates for the honour done him, and expressed appreciation of the good feeling which his fellow nominees had shown him. It was now for one and all to fight for- the fine :objects which the party represented. He could assure everyone to the most humble constituent that, if *he was successful in winning the seat, should they bring their problems to either he or his wife they would not fall on deaf ears. The members of the party had charged him with a great responsibility, and he would not let them down. With a leader such as the party had in Mr. S. G. Holland, and with his team, they could bring out the best which was 'inherent in the Britisher. (Applause) . Mr. Mcllroy then extended congratulations to Mr. Maher on his success. Mr. Todd moved a hearty vote of thanks to the unsuceessful nominees. This was seconded by Mr. Moss and carried with accla'mation. Each of the unsuceessful nominees thanked the delegates for giving them such an attentive hearing, and pledged their support for Mr. Maher. Mr. H. J. Jones then moved that the meeting, representing between 3000 and 4000 members, express its ioyalty and confidence in Mr. Holland as leader, and assures him of its fullest co-operation a,t all times. This wras seconded .by Mr, Thomas and carried byltfie sifiging pf ; 7H|r 'He's a J'olly Gfiod' Fellfi\^'': * * * ^ 7 17 Votes of timnkfe to Mr-. -.Mcllroy for presiding and the ladies Pf the Otaki branch for providing supper concluded the meeting. The Candidate Mr. Maher was born at Palmerston North and is a member of a pioneering family. He is a wellknown figure in Hutt Valley rural. district. He has been a member of the Mangaroa School Committee for over twenty years, and is the oldest sitting member of the Wel- r lington Dairy Farmers' Co-op * Association, of which he has been chairman for the past twelve years. Mr. Maher .has sat on the Hutt County Council for fifteen years, and has been a member of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board for a similar period. He is president for New Zealand of the Town Milk Suppliers' ' Board, and was returned this year at the top of the poll. He volunteered for service during the Great War of 1914-18, but was declined on medical grounds. He has been a member of the Wairarapa executive of the National Party for many years. In 1943 Mr. Maher contested the Wairarapa seat for the National Party against the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Ben Roberts, but was defeated by 151 votes. He has always been an energetic opponent of the Labour Party's trend towards socialism, and - a lively exponent of individual freedom and enterprise.