OROUA ELECTION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9177, 22 June 1908, Page 4

OROUA ELECTION

- p ’■..rT»»r^ r * ■MR D. H. GUTHRIES’fOANDI- ‘ DATURBiAt the conclusion of the business of the Kiwi tea Oonnty Council on Saturday, Mr D. H. Guthrie announced his intention to become a candidate fof election to Parliament to represent the Oroua electorate. He said he was making that statement, not with any intention of endeavouring to identify the Council with his candidature,'but because having been associated /so many years with them in Oonnty Ooucnil affairs he thought- they would ,be interested in the important step he was taking. He was glad to tell them that he had not pushed himself into the position, for even before Mr Lethbridge had publicly announced, his intention to retire, he had been asked to declare himself a candidate. He had then said he would do nothing in the matter that might have the effect of influencing Mr Lethbridge’s decision. That decision having been now taken and other candidates having come into the field, and in response to the advice of electors in several parts of the constituency, it was now bis intention to accede to that request. Nor did he intend to withdraw from the position he had taken up—he would not stand against the interest of the Oroua and the advice of his friends —but he would nou back down for private interest; and it was now his intention to go to the poll. He made that statement as to friends, and he thought they would not misunderstand him in making it. Mr S. J. Carman said he was pleased that Mr Guthrie had broken the news of his eandidature to them in the first instance. Having worked with him so long, he could say that he had found Mr Guthrie a st«iotly honourable and capable man of bnsi- ' ness, and one who could be thoroughly relied upon. He was one who had the interest of tbe FarmersUnion at heart; and what were farmers interests were naturally his interests. He would be particularly pleased to support Mr Guthrie. .He .■ had come forward in an .honour »blej. manner, not for personal aggran ment, but with the ohjcet oL’ (k ing the seat for the Party, ana I was quite sure that if elected ty Guthrie would admirably fulfil tl 'Cj duties of the position. Mr P. P. Hockley was pleased to*? hear the .announcement (which he ;j, had been expecting) that Mr intended to -contest the seat. ,Thefe constituency essentially ing one—its interests were farmers —and therefore it should , a represented b; 1 There werc toc c*w practical ers in the tiou‘ and consequent '' too little prac \*al knowledge farming mattfe . :'wn in the ■ sideratiou of n _* , -c-af^ect-yu interests brdtqp.. They knew- t ’ * Guthrie undertook- J'Snt"'*'"- v the best of his 'abi ' Guthrie had his best' >’ x step he had Taken -.; \ t is 'tb|f . Mr J. McNeil st .j Mr Guthrie as a go ’ Icoal affairs during thVj* f r o|K ’ years. If he was Elected aV . the lead of Mr _ , xnentary matters he thejeleotors. There rather against him was that he was ‘ as Mr Ls triib; l-ugb£l* J - ' -/t*—; 7 ; - through the distrii, ' electors in his cus- I forward manner, , j become as popular <■ L J whom he hopeaihe?he<L',XLi.- I Mr J. ’>K , I would no I farmlMS*- \ f I be fair to ' .VA farmers weo-eTj’ShgbAce y A/.-'pyM 1 , now than ;;J the Union , ■ were selected Vtr%H could be done Mr W, Morton said tsiat up to]vheS|' present there had beeii no nomina- ‘ tion of a gandidate by the *Wion. In „ fact the Halcombe people might ‘ make just as good a cla'im for^he^ J own man. * Mr B/Short said he was a supporter of Mr Pleasants’ candidature. They had been personally acquainted since boyhood, and as a candidate in the interests of the farmers, it was his intention to support, him all he possibly could. He lioped that statement would not interfere with the good relations between him and Mr Guthrie. Mr Guthrie : Not in the slightest. We might add Jhat Mr Guthrie has been a farmer during the past eleven years, having been a State school teacher previously. It is because of his intimate knowledge of school matters that he has been of such great service on the Wanganui Education Board of which he is at present a member. Mr Guthrie has been one of the leaders of the Farmers’ Union movement, and is at the present time a member of the Executive. He baa been the Chairman of the Rangiwahia Dairy Company since its inception, and has taken the lead in several other matters of local interest.