WELLINGTON NORTH SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1918, Page 5

WELLINGTON NORTH SEAT.

FOn; CANDIDATES OUT. ' TIIJ- NEW MINISTER. (By Wiri'—Our Wellington, Last, Night, With the elevation of the Hon. Herdman to the Supreme Court bench, as announced in the Gazette to-night, Hie Wellington North sent becomes vacant, Th« . writ for the necessary by-elcctiou is ex» 1 pected to be issued on Monday next. The ollicial National Government candidate (Mr. J. P. Luke) will address his supporters to-morrow evening. It may be tnken for granted that he will not talk politics. i llr. M. Myera, who had been asked to stand as an unofficial Reform candidate, supporting the National Government, hfrs -i deeided not to accept nomination, but it " h announced this evening that Mr. D» Bathe Brandon, best kno)vn as the father of the famous flyer, will stand against all comers. Mr, Brandon is politicallysa Reformer of the old conservative • type, and he states that he will support sie National Government forthe war period. In the event of its dissolution, ho will vote with the Reformers. Mr. Broirijon ■ has the approval of the liquor interests, ■ and a statement he made rv.gardhig'Big opposition to experimental legislation's interpreted to mean that he will not ' favor any further curtailment of thwprivileges of the trade, Mr. Luke, it may be noted in' thisfoonnection, is a prohibitionist. The other two candidates are Mr.,EoJ- ,' son, a Liberal, who would bo a candid critic of the National Government, and Mr. Holland, the Labor nominee. A corollary to the elevation Herdman is the appointment, -of ister to take his place in tbt'BefiMjie-. tion of the National Government. The new Minister is to be Mr. Guthrie,«the /.• chief Relorm whip, who is expected'«to ' hold the portfolio of Lands- during„Mr ; :• Massey's abaence-in London'. Mr. Massey, it is understood, does'not " intend to part with the Landa 'portfolio '• permanently, and Mr. Guthrie.'® cWef' task will be todook.after the .returned' soldiers, who have frequently askedjfor a Minister to attend to'their'interest

RE-SHUFFLING OF PORTFOLIOS/

By Telegraph.—Frees Association. ' Wellington, Last Following the. resignation of Herdinan, ic is taken for- granted that Mr. Guthrie will fill the vacancy. Mr,; Guthrie will take over the Lands resitfolio when Mr. Maaaey-goea- to EnfclsncL > Urtil then he will take only the dfs-i : charged Soldiers' Information Bureau^ It is understood the Hon. Hanan,.refill' take the police, and the Hon. SirHankM Bell will become Attorney-General.