WESTLAND BY-ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 6

WESTLAND BY-ELECTION

POSSIBILITY OF THIRD CANDIDATE INDEPENDENT LABOUR Special to the Daily Times GREYMOUTH, Nov. 12. There is a distinct possibility of a third candidate entering the field in the Westland by-election, whereas originally it was thought that the contest would be a straight-out one beween National and Labour. Mr W. M. Wallace, of Koiterangi, a farmer and chairman of the Westland Land Sales Committee, who was unsuccessful in gaining official Labour nomination, may yet enter the field as an Independent Labour candidate and thus provide all the interesting possibilities which are the outcome of a threecornered contest. While there is-noth-ing yet definite about Mr Wallace’s candidature there is the strongest belief that .his nomination will go forward. “It is only because of very definite pressure brought to bear on me by a number of responsible people that I am considering the matter at all,” said Mr Wallace when asked to-day to confirm that he may enter the contest. He had been approached yesterday by a number of prominent people in Hokitika with a request that he should consent to nomination. In fact, he had had a number of requests to enter the contest ever since the death of Mr O’Brien. Nominations do ncc close until Tuesday next, so that there is plenty of time for new nominations or withdrawals. A writ was issued to-day fixing the election date as December 3.