POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 3

POLITICAL.

THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT. SIR JOHN FINDLAY DECLINES NOMINATION' By Telegraph.—Press Assertion. Hastings, Feb. 17. A meeting of the Hustings branch 0/ the Hawke's Buy Liberal League appointed delegates to Monday's selection convention and instructed them to support the candidature of Mr. H. Lan Simson. Sir Jonn Findlay has withdrawn his consent to become a candidate. In the course of a statement to the Tribune Sir John says: "I had no desire to thrust myself into the election for .1 have always been averse to re-enter-ing politics. But my objections were overcome by an appeal to patriotic motives. I regret to disappoint many friends belonging to both parties, who have asked me to stand with a view to assisting to some solution of the national problems that confront us, but the conditions represented to mo and upon which I consented are entirely absent in Hawke's Bay. I have therefore withdrawn niy consent to nomina-. tion." If the convention's choice falls on Mr. Simson on Monday night there will be other Liberal candidates in the field. Mr. A. E. Jull is to be asked by a deputation of Hastings citizens to stand, and Mr. A. L. D. Fraser has stated his intention to be a candidate. The intention of the local Reform Party has noi yet been declared. Wellington, Feb. 17. The writ for the Hawke's Bay election was issued to-day. The election will be held on Marcli S, the writ being [returnable on the 17th.