FORTHCOMING ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1931, Page 6

FORTHCOMING ELECTION

UNITED PARTY’S INTENTION'S. NATIONAL PARTY QUESTION. MAJORITY OF CANDIDATES SELECTED. • “The United Party has finally selected tits candidates for at least 75 per cent, of the seats in the House, and it expects in a very short time to have selected suitable candidates for practically the whole remaining 25 per cent.” This statement was made to a representative in the course of conversation with a prominent member of the New Zealand Executive of the United Party. PROFOUND ADMIRATION FOR MR FORBES. He said there was no doubt that United was being offered a fine class of man for its candidates, and in the whole history of Liberalism he had never known any leaders, not even ~ the Hon. Richard Seddon or Sir Joseph Ward, to be received with such profound admiration as Mr Forbes had been by all classes of'the community. He was looked upon as an honest, courageous, safe leader, and a leader that the country was fortunate in having under the present circumstances. The United Executive official said that he had gathered an most of the places he had visited that no so much was said about party, but frequent mention was made of the profound' respect .in which people held iilr Forbes, and of their utmost confidence in him.

“Mr Forbes' proposals to have the country, in its present state, govern:d by a national seem to meet with almost unanimous favour,” he declared. The impression was that Mr Forbes' idea, was that the country should pay its, way at almost any cost and should be united to combat the great danger of militant labour. The Un.ifecl Party executives throughout New Zealand had agreed with Mr Forbes’ attitude on the fusion question when he returned from England, and they supported his statement the other day that events that hadhappened since made the question of a national party even more imperative than it was then. • , COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY. “If there is vote splitting £?t the elections, as appears now to be almost certain, it will be neither the wish nor the work of the work of the United Party, whose main desire at the forthcoming elections is -to place the interests of the country above all politics or party interests,” he continued. The only gesture that had come from the Reform Party, had. been the resolution carried at a meeting of its supporters last week in Hurunui at which it was decided not to nominate a candidate in

opposition to the Prime Minister. The gesture was promptly appreciated by the National Executive of the United Party in Wellington, which carried a resolution to the effect that, in view of the Prime Minister’s well-known position with regard to having the country nationally governed, it would recommend its body in Kaipara Electorate not to nominate a candidate against the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. J. G. Coates). It particularly desired that nothing should be done to militate against ?he well-known intention of the Prime Minister. The action of the National Executive Was very' cordially appreciated by the Prime Minister, and in congratulating the executive, the “Evening Post,” in a leading' article, sMd that it had not only “done the right tKing, but done it in the right way.” . FROM REFORM TO UNITED. /'Commenting 'further on the forthcoming elections, this gentleman said that in several of the electorates, those standing in support of Mr Forbes aind his policy were formerly strong supporters of Reform. He pointed to the dangers of triangular contests as illustrated in the city of 'Wellington, where at least three seats were at present held by Labour— Wellington East, North and South—none of'which, it was generally conceded, could be retained ip a straight-out contest.