MR. BAILDON WILL NOT SEEK ELECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 387, 22 June 1928, Page 1

MR. BAILDON WILL NOT SEEK ELECTION

CITY PROBLEMS HAVE GREATER CLAIMS THAN GREY LYNN SEAT The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, has declined to be nomin-ated for the Grey Lynn seat at the Parliamentary elections. He gave this reply, to the electors who sought his candidature, this morning, and Grey Lynn is left to seek another Reform candidate. In his reply to the deputation Mr. Baildon states: “I have given your requisition my careful and serious consideration. Needless to say, I greatly appreciate your reference to, and acknowledgment of, my many years of public service in various capacities, and that I am pleased to learn that my efforts have merited your approbation as evidenced by your desire to give your support to me if I would consefit to become a candidate for Parliamentary honours. “As you are doubtless aware, there are many intricate policy problems confronting the city at the present time, in the solution of which it will be necessary for me, as its Alayor, to give my whole and undivided attention for some months to come. “The contesting by me of a Parliamentary election during the present year would necessarily mean the diversion of my efforts from helping in the settlement of these problems. “I accordingly feel that it would not be fair to the citizens, who did me the honour of electing me as Mayor of the city, to allow anything to interfere with my services to the city during the period of my occupancy of the Mayoral chair. “Holding these views, I have come to the conclusion that the present year is not an opportune one for me to contest a Parliamentary seat, and I accordingly regret that I cannot see my way, under existing conditions, to comply with the request conveyed to me in your requisition. If, however, an opportunity arises in the future, when I am free from the responsibilities of my civic duties, and the electors so desire, I will be only too pleased to give the proposal my very serious consideration.”

MANUKAU SEAT

MR. E. V. SUTHERLAND MAY STAND The committee, .of the Manukau Reform League, headed by Mr. John Parle, the president, waited upon Mr. E. V. Sutherland in Onehunga last evening,' requesting him to contest the Manukau ssaV in' the Reform interests Mr. Sutherland said that he had declined a -similar request by a deputation of Onehunga residents about a month ago, but he would reconsider the proposal and advise the committee of his decision In a week’s time. Among those present were: Miss B. Carnachan, Mr. M.. Harding, of Mount Wellington, and Mr. G. H.. Wilson, president of the Auckland Provincial Reform League. Mr. Sutherland has spent the whole of his life in Onehunga.. He was a member of. tile Onehunga Borough Council for If) years, and is the immediate pas-t -president of the Onehunga Orphans’ Club. He was also chairman of the Onehunga Jubilee Committee.

EDEN ELECTORATE

MR. L. E. RHODES AGAIN APPROACHED Another request that he should contest the Eden seat in the interest of the Reform Party at the general election was made to Mr. L. E. Rhodes. Mayor of Mount Albert, yesterday. It was made by a representative deputation from the Arolia Ladies’ Progressive League. Mr. Rhodes said he had already received a similar request but he had not yet reached a decision.