THE OTAKI SEAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1311, 15 October 1914, Page 2

THE OTAKI SEAT.

SELECTION OF REFORM CANDIDATE.

Last Friday, iti response to a wire from the Hon. F, M. B. Fisher, Mr Byron Brown went to Wellington, and bad a conference with regard to the trouble over the selection of a Reform candidate for Otaki. There were present: Messrs Massey (Premier), F. M. B. Fisher, and Guthrie. It was agreed that the seat would be lost to Reform if both Messrs Field and Brown stood, and the question was, which was to stand down ? Eventually it was arranged that both candidates should agree to abide by the decision of Cabinet, and the one who was asked to stand down should be given a chance of contesting another electorate in the Reform interests. Mr Brown agreed to this if Mr Field would also pass his word to abide by Cabinet’s decision, but he would take time to consider whether be would contest another seat in the event of his being rejected for Otaki. Mr Brown made it quite clear that he did not surrender his claims to the Reform nomination, but would loyally stand by the verdict of the Ministers, Mr Field also expressed his perfect willingness to abide by the decision of Cabinet. Mr Field said he wished the Party to be unfettered by any past happenings, and said he would agree to the choice of Ministers not only as between himself and Mr Brown, but also as to any other prospective candidate.— Otaki Mail.