COMMUNISTS MAKE CHANGE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1946, Page 6

COMMUNISTS MAKE CHANGE

-Press Association

CANDIDATE'S ELECTORATE

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. The Communist Party kas withdrawn its candidate Brian Berg from tke Mount Victoria eiectorate and is now contestiug Island Bay at tke General Election. Tke reasons for tke change are contained in a statement issued by tke Wellington district executive of tke Communist Party. "Tke New Zealand Communist Party, in contestiug three seats at tke I'orthcomiug General Election, is primarily coucerued vvitk unifying and strengtkeuing tke Labour movement to defeat tke National Party," says tke statement. " L'nfortunateiy all official attenipts at electoral unity with tke Labour Party kave beeu rejeeted. Tho Wellington brauch of the Party therefore was forced to choose an eiectorate witkout consnltation witk tke Labour Party. After Mount Victoria kad beeu ckosen it became clear that tke entry of tke Communist Party in that eiectorate ruigkt provide tke National .candidate witk tke ckance of election. In tke- interests of unity, retuin of a Labour Government; and defeat of the National Party, we kave therefore withdrawn our candidate from tkis eiectorate." It was felt tliat in choosing Island Bay as the new elecorate, tke issue would be a straightforward one. The area was so predominantly working class tkat all hope of a Nationalist being elected was precluded and it would be a contest between Communist and Labour as to who would Tepresent the workers of the eleet.nrat.fi. tlie stfl.tPTnmit cone. Iwi ari.