WILL NOT CONTEST SEAT AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 11

WILL NOT CONTEST SEAT AGAIN

Mr. Cobbe, M.P. For

Manawatu

NEW NATIONAL CANDIDATE TO BE SELECTED

Dominion Special Service.

FEILDING. November 13.

Nearly 100 delegates from all branches of the National Party in the Manawatu electorate attended a meeting of the general committee of the electorate in Feilding last night, when it was announced Unit Mr. Cobbe, the sitting member for the constituency would not seek re-election as the party candidate at the next general election. In making the announcement, the president, Mr. Q. O. Wilson, said all supporters of the party, not. only in the Mana wait,, nut elsewhere, would feel regret at. Mr. Cobbe’s decision, not to contest the seat again. The public owed Mr. Cobbe a debt, of gratitude for the great work he bad done on its behalf, and he would go to bis retirement with the knowledge of a job well and faithfully carried out. Everybody would recognize that Mr. Cobbe could well will another election in the Manawatu, but to ask him to do more than he had done would sot; be fair, and the committee must accept Mr. Cobbe’s decision.

Mr. Cobbe thanked the committee and supporters of the party for the loyalty all had given him. He looked back on the last election with pride in the fact that in only one case had a National Party candidate ha'd a larger majority than he had, and that result he ascribed to the loyal and energetic manner in which all ranks of the party in the electorate had taken up their duties. Mr. Cobbe said he had now been 12 years in Parliament, and the time had arrived for him to make way for a younger man. He hoped that a ean'didate of unanimous choice would be forthcoming, and that the same loyal support that he had received would be accorded the new candidate. Calling of Nominations.

Following a general discussion the committee decided to proceed with the calling of nominations from branches ■for the Manawatu electorate, nominations to close with the electorate secretary on Friday, February 7. The chairman urged on all branches of the party the need for greater activity, and suggested that the choice of a candidate would give their endeavours the fillip and' political atmosphere required for a vigorous campaign. It. was decided that executive members, ■when required, should attend branch meetings to give any assistance possible. It was announced that Mr. K. J. Holyoake, National candidate for Pahiatua. had been invited to attend a social gathering that was toeing arranged in Feilding for Wednesday, November 27. and to give an address. Small Farms Bill. Giving a. brief survey of the political field at the conclusion of the general business of the meeting, Air. Cobbe drew attention to lhe Small Farms Amendment Bill, which will come before the House when it resumes on November 26. Air. Cobbe said the aims of this Bill were far-reaching and entirely opposed to past procedure for the purchase of laud by the Government, and as such it: should lie strongly objected to. He urged all farmers to support the meeting arranged by the Farmers’ Union in Feilding on Friday, when the purport of the measure would be fully explained.