WELLINGTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 119, 6 February 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON NORTH

MR. A. DE B. BRANDON TO BE NOMINATED MR. MYERS WITHDRAWS The announcement is made herewith that Mr. M. Myers has decided not to stand as a candidate for the constituency of Wellington North, and there is a further announcement that Mr. A. do B. Brandon, has consented to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate. Mr. Brandon, who has always been well known as a supporter of the Reform Party, promises to vote with tho National Government, and in the event of a severance of the two parties in the coalition, to vote with the Reform Party until the next general election.

Tho date of the election cannot be given until the writ is issued, and tlio writ will not bo issued for a few da.vs .yet, probably on Monday. The writ will be returnable in twenty-eight days, so that polling day should be about threo weeks after the issue of tho writ. As Monday may not be considered a eood day for the talcing of a poll, possibly the" day for polling will not, as is the most common usage, be exactly three weeks after the issue of tho writ. Mr. Myers's Statemsnt. In fulfilment of his promise to the deputation which waited upon him on Friday last, Mr. M. Myers has written concerning his proposed candidature for the Wellington North seat as follows:— "I told tho deputation that met me 011 Friday last that in a certain event (which has happened) I would endeavour so to arrange matters as to enable 111 ato accede to the request that I should becomo a candidate for tho Wellington North seat. I liavo given tho matter very full consideration, and find that it is impracticable at the present moment to arrange my business and privato affairs in such a way as to justify my entering into the contest. I regret from some points of vjew, apart from my own interests, that this should be so, as I have been approached from many quarters with, promises of considerable support had I been able to announco my candidature." Mr.' Approached. A meeting of a number of electors was hold yesterday afternoon, as the result of which a deputation consisting of Messrs. E. F. Hadlield, H. Buddie, M. Myers, W. S. Bennett, J. B. MacEwan, A. E. Whyte, E. W. Hunt, H. L. Nathan, I. Duncan,-11. Sim, and others, waited upon Mr. A. do B. Brandon to ask him to allow himself to .be nominated for the seat. Mr. Hadlield acted as spokesman on hehalf of the deputation, and pointed out that Mr .Brandon had been a public man in the city, having held the position of city councillor and Mayor for several years, and that he had lived all his lifo in tho "Wellington North electorate, and was a gentleman who Enjoyed tho cor.fidoncc and respect oi all who knew him. Mr. Hadlield said that the members of the deputation were of opinion that Mr. Brandon was in every senso qualified to represent the olectors in Parliament at the present time. He also mentioned the fact that Mr. Brandon's sons were at the war, and that his eldest son, as the people of Wellington will well remember, has won great distinction for himself as< an aviator and a member of the Royal Flying Corps. Other members of the deputation expressed the strong desire evinced by tho electors generally to have, as their representative a resident in the district and a broad-minded man such as Mr. Brandon was known to be. '

Mr. Brandon, in reply, said that in view of what the members of the deputation had represented he was willing to place himself in their hands, and become a candidate. He said that his main policy was "win the war," and to that end he considered the continuance of the existence of the National Government of the utmost importance, but ho reserved tho right to criticise freely proposals of every kind with the view of assisting tho National Government. Ho deprecated experimental legislation during the war, and would vote against any experimental measures which were left to the individual conscience of members, and which were not advised by the National Government as being necessary for the winning of the war. In tho event of the break-up of the National Government before tho end of tlio war his vote would be cast with the Reform Party until the next general election. Mr. Brandon announced that lie would take an early opportunity of placing liis views before electors. Those present at once formed themselves into a committee to sceure Mr. Brandon's election.

THE LABOUR CANDIDATE

MB. HOLLAND'S CAMPAIGN. Last evening tlicre was a meeting of the Labour Representation Committee and the Wellington North Branch of the Labour Party. The attendance was satisfactory, and an enthusiastic committee was set up to work for Mr. Holland's return. Matters of detail in connection with the campaign were gone into. It is expected that Mr. Holland will open his campaign to-morrow evening; a definite announcement will be made before then. Open-air meetings will be begun to-morrow. It is stilted that promises of assistance have como in from Labour supporters in all parts of Wellington, and that speakers from all parts of New Zealand are expected to come to Wellington to assist in the campaign. Financial assistance has begun to come in from all parts of the Dominion. Mr. Peter Fraser lias been appointed election agent and organiser of the campaign under the allspices of the Labour bodies.

In this issue Mr. Holland publishes an address to the electors, in which 110 states that he is pledged to tho platform and principles of the New Zealand Labour Party, and, if elected, will be unswerving in his support of all its aims and objects. The candidate states, amongst other things, that he will challenge the Government 011 its conscription policy, the manner in which it has withheld from the people information concerning its own war policy, its war regulations, and its policy in the application of the regulations, its treatment of tho soldiers and conscientious objectors, finance, and the cost of living.

CONCERNING WELLINGTON NORTH

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Your "Kelburn .North" correspondent docs not know enough, or 110 would have displayed more wisdom. I did not 'seek the forefront, as he puts it. It was thrust upon me by the publie meeting of Wellington North electors, of whom I am one. That public meeting of electors was called by advertisement in your own paper, and in the absence of the convener, Mr. T. Wilson, 1 was chosen chairman. That meeting expressed strong dissent from Mr. Masse.v's action in choosing a candidate for the seat who could not be supported by them and they were perfectly right and reasonable in their determination to choose a candidate themselves. It is quite true I am not a follower of Mr. Massev, and the electors of Wellington North arc not a flock of sheep readv to follow anv lielled-v/ether, no to speak, the head shepherd may elect to adorn with that ornament. As a journalist, I am not connected with any political organisation, but I supported Mr. TTerdnian as I believe in voting for the. best man in my judgment offopng for any public office irrespective of his political colour. I believed Mr. Myors

would adequately represent all interests in Wellington North, but since ho has found is impracticable to respond to the call of the electors, I am sure that under Mr. Brandon's banner all interests will be solidified. 1-le is a candidate chosen by the electors themselves, and is entirely worthy of their support. Mr. Massey has, by his altitude towards the electors of Wellington North, alienated the sympathies of tho vast majority of Reform doctors by his most unfortunate selection, especially when thoy were not consulted. Mr. Brandon is a strong supporter of the Win-tlie-War Party; and in his speech this afternoon accepting nomination, he placed the winning of the war as the first plank in his platform, and lie is ready to subordinate all other considerations to this achievement. Now i the electors of Wellington North i:av settled upon a candidate of their own choice, and thereby vindicated tho privilege inherently theirs as free and independent electors, a great democratic principle has been re-established in tli; election, and the duty thrust upon me by my fellow-electors has been fulfilled. We have chosen a candidate, and ' trust all sections of the constituency will unite in securing liis. return, Mr. Brandon has special claims, which Mr. Massey has already extolled, to the suffrages of Wellington North. Allow me to add that Mr. M. Myers, ii joining forces with Mr. Brandon ?' this juncture, has shewn a manly anA ■unselfish spirit, which liis admirers will be slow to forget.—l am, et<\, J. D. SIEVWEIGHT, Chairman of the meeting of Wellington North Electors.