PAHIATUA SEAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 255, 25 September 1940, Page 9

PAHIATUA SEAT

NATIONAL CANDIDATE

MR K. J. HOLYOAKE WELCOMED.

A warm welcome was extended to Mr K. J. Holyoake at a meeting of the Paliiatua Electorate Committee'of

the National Party at Danncvirke on Monday night, when, as reported yesterday, he announced his acceptance of an invitation to stand in the party interests in that electorate. Mr Holyoake said that in coming from Motueka to take up a property in the electorate, he was leaving one which had been in the possession of his family for four generations. In. making the announcement that Mr Holyoake would contest the seat in succession to Sir Alfred Ransom, who is not seeking re-election, Mr H. P. Horne, the electorate chairman, stated that Mr Holyoake (who, incidentally,' was bom in Paliiatua) was shortly to take up his residence in the electorate again. The decision to ask Mr Holyoake to contest the seat was unanimously reached at a meeting of the Electorate Committee some time

ago, and later confirmed by the branches of the party in the electorate. The request had now been agreed to bv Mr Holyoake. Mr Horne added that he was gratified that the district had secured so worthy and experienced a candidate to take up the party’s work as it was so splendidly left, after a distinguished career, by Sir Alfred Ransom.

)n associating himself with the chairman's greetings. Sir Alfred Ransom said he was pleased to .welcome to Danncvirke an old colleague, whom he claimed to know as well as most men. He mentioned that when Mr Holyoake was defeated at the last election for Motueka the National Party had felt it was not only a serious loss to it, but to New Zealand as a whole. Personally, lie had the utmost confidence in recommending Mr Holyoake as a candidate for the electorate. Chairmen and representatives of the branches throughout the electorate extended a hearty welcome to Mr Holvoake and assured him of the wholehearted support of the members of the party in their localities. PARTY’S COMMENDATION.

Mr Horne read the following letter from Mr J. H. McJlroy, of Wellington, divisional president, who was unable to be present:—“l would like you to know how much I appreciate the action which is being taken in your electorate to secure a suitable successor to Sir Alfred Hansom. Your choice is an excellent one, and I’m sure other electorates who are looking for candidates will he nather envious of Paliiatua. "While extending my congratulations to Mr Holyoake, 1 would like at the same time to express keen appreciation of the long and able service given by Sir Alfred Ransom not only to Paliiatua. electorate, but to the country as a whole.” Appreciation was expressed by Mr Holyoake of the welcome and the sentiments voiced by the various speakers. He fully appreciated the honour aud the high compliment paid him in inviting him to stand as the Nationalist successor to Sir Alfred Ransom. ‘‘l accept your invitation,” lie said, “in the same warm spirit and with the same warmth of feeling as that with, which you have offered it to me.” After remarking that lie felt deeply conscious of his responsibility on this occasion in following Sir Alfred Ransom, who had set a very high standard of public life, lie paid a very high tribute to the 'present member for Paliiatua and also to the great assistance that had at all times been given by Lady Ransom. Mr Holyoake intimated that in consequence of - his decision he intended immediately to set about securing a property with the . intention of coming permanently to reside in the Pahiatua electorate. It would mean a considerable wrench to vacate his present holding in Motueka, which had been farmed by his family for four generation?, hut in view of the nature of the invitation and his desire to be of service to the electorate and the Dominion as a whole, he felt it his duty to make such sacrifice, and his wife was- willing to participate therein. Mr Holyoake was warmly applauded at the conclusion of his remarks. CANDIDATE’S CAREER.

Mr Holyoake is the third son of Mr and Mrs H. V. Holyoake, of Motueka, and wa6 born in P&hiatua on’ February 11, 1904, his father then conducting a, small store in that town. Mr Holyoake’s great-grandparents on both sides of his family were_ among the pioneers who landed in Nelson in 1842. After, experience of several kinds of activity in his youth, Mr Holyoake returned to Motueka and at present farm’s a property -producing fruit, hops and tobacco, which has been in the Holyoake family for four generations. For seven years Mr Holyoake was a ’Nelson-Motueka llugby representative and later was a releree. He was president for several years of the Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union and a vice-president of the New Zealand Union. For many years ho represented his district at tennis, and for some time was president of the Motueka Tennis Association. lie has been president, patron and secretary of several other sporting organisations, including the Motueka Athletic Association and a gymnasium. At an early ago Mr Holyoake was persuaded to occupy executive positions in several primary producing organisations. At the age of 27 he became Nelson provincial president or the Farmers’ Union and a member of the Dominion executive of the same body, and has held this office ever since. This year he was elected a Dominion vice-president of the union. He is a member of the Dominion Economic Conference called recently by the Government. For six years Mr Holyoake was a member of the Cawtliron Institute Trust Board, also for 10 years a member of the executive of the Motueka Fruit Exporters’ Association and still holds this position. For several years he was an executive member of the New Zealand Tobacco Growers’ Federation and for the last three years a member of the New Zealand Hop Marketing Committee, of which lie is now chairman. He is an executive member of the Nelson and Motueka Progress Leagues. .Mr Holyoake was also the first president of the Motueka A. and P. Association.

As recalled yesterday, Mr Holyoake first contested the Motueka seat in the general election of 1931, against Mr G. Black, and was narrowly defeated. On Mr Black’s death in 1932, Mr Holyoake successfully contested the seat against Hon. P. C. Webb, and took his seat in Parliament at the age of 28 years. He was re-elected in 1935 but was defeated in 1938; following boundary alterations a large mining area of the West Coast had been added to the Motueka electorate and a farming area transferred to the Nelson electorate. Mr Holyoake married Miss Norma Ingram (also of pioneer descent) in January, 1936. and they have three children. Mrs Holyoake is president of the Riwaka branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.

Mr Holyoake when in . Parliament was recognised on all .sides 'as one of the best .speakers in the House.