NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1928, Page 4

NEW POLITICAL PARTY

CANDIDATES SELECTED. ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE. made soon. DUNEDIN, Alarch 16. “11l about it fortnight’s time a number of candidates to contest seats for the United Political Party will he announced,” stated Afr G. AV. Forbes this morning before he loft for the south. “The selection is now being made of candidates to stand for every seat in the Otago Province.” Air Forbes asserted that the Reform Party was rising a bogey when it declared that, three-cornered elections would tend to give Laltour a victory. “I can say that the public will be pleased with the standard and personnel of the candidates to be selected, as they will he representative men whose addition to the Parliamentary ranks would lie a decided gain,” he said. “1 was surprised to find that any reference to a change of Government was received with applause at the public meeting. It seems to indicate very clearly that so far as Dunedin is concerned the people have weighed the Government in the balance and loutul it wanting. “Undoubtedly there is an immediate opportunity for the supporto.s ol the new paty to be successful in capturing a number of seats. Afanv thousands of Liberals who have been voting Reform and Labour in the past through want of Liberal candidates in the elections will welcome the candidates of their own politics.• who will bo contesting the seats this year." “All the ridiculous suggestions from the present Government that this would lend to strengthen Labour’s posi lion will not deter those gen (lenten, who know different.’ “Who are the prominent men in the United Party in Dunedin?” Alt' Forbes and Mr A. E. Davy (organiser for the party) were asked. “We cannot divulge that information." replied Air Davy. “It is a mailer of precedent. The Reform Party does not disclose its personnel and it would he ridiculous to expect us to publish file names of our supporters. Not of course that we are ashamed of them.” Last night Air Forlics and Air Davy met the supporters of the United Political organisation and it was also reported that much enthusiasm was shown. The question of contesting the various seats in the Otago province was gone into and arrangements wore made to select candidates to stand for every scat. A povinicinl organiser was appointed, and general preparations were made to meet the possible emergency of an early election. Air Davy expressed himself as being well satisfied with the progress of the movement in Dunedin. Undoubtedly, lie said. Air Forbes’s visit hud given u fillip to the cause, and the personnel of the local organisation had been considerably added to. His organisation was now complete in the four centres, and headquarters, officers and provincial organisers had been appointed. “The result of this activity will he soon apparent to !ho public- by the publication of the names of tilt* candidates in the various provincial districts." stated Air Davy and Afr Forbes added that a number «>f the candidates would lie announced in about a fortnight’s time. By this morning’s express Mr Forbes and Air Davy left for AVinton. They will return to Christchurch for a meeting of the party and to make arrangements to another tour of the North Island. Mr Forbes expects to make another public address at an early date in Christchurch.