REFORM PROSPECTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2167, 4 June 1914, Page 5

REFORM PROSPECTS.

THE ORGANISER INTERVIEWED. • Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday about the - prospects of tho Reform Party in - the constiitiicncios which fringo tho northern part of tho South Island, Mr. A. A. Paapo (Reform Party organiser) said that tiio conference recently held at Motueka for tho purpose of selecting a Reform candidate for that seat was in itself a very important and significant gathering. One of tho candidates for the party nomination,' Mr. Geo. Macmalion, was tho selected Liberal candidate for Nelson at tho last ■election. The conference was attended by 42 delegates, from all parts of tho electorate, and of that .number, Mr. Paapa stated, fully fifteen were, at tho time of the last olecfcion, keen supporters of tho present Opposition. "All the candidates for selection woro, keen to stand," Mr. Paapo added, "and I believe, that any ono of them cotild liavo captured tho scat/ The members of our party arc particularly optimistic right through the electorate, and tho 'seat is absolutely ours. !'So fair as Wai ran is concerned," Mr. Paapo continued, "the position there is equally good, and wo aro confident of winning that seat also. It has been stated that we cannot get.a candidate for Nflsoij, but we aro work'ng in our own way in regard to that. A requisition is now in circulation esking a gentleman to stand in tho interests of tho Reform Party, and, to my knowledge, in Brightwater • and Wakeficld. 'alone, over 150 electors linvo signed the requisition. At Richmond practically nine-tenths of tlio people liayo signed. In my opinion Mr. Atmoro will rcquiro a majority of 500 in Nelson City in order to get tho seat, and lie cannot possibly get it. I feel perfectly satisfied that theso three seat.s on tho north of tho South Island aro going to be won by the Reform Party."