GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1922, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

OPPONENT FOR MR. HOLLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, Sept. 4. The Mayor, Mr. John Menzies, stated he has definitely decided to contest the Buller seat as an Independent, voting with the Government on a no-confidence motion. THE GISBORNE SEAT. Gisborne, Sept. 4. In response to a deputation, Mr. George Smith, chairman of the Harbor Board, agreed to accept nomination for the Gisborne seat at the Parliamentary election in the Reform interests. EARLY IN THE FIELD. Masterton, Last Night. . Mr. W. H. Jackson opened the poli-. tical campaign in the Mastertbn electorate to-night. He declared’ himself' a straight-out supporter of Mr. Massey. CIVIL SERVANTS’ STATUS.... .. STANDING AS CANDIDATES. “The position requires a little explanation,” said the Prime Minister, when he was asked in the .House .what, would be the position of civil servant?, who wished to be candidates at the coming Parliamentary election. Three years ago, said Mr. Massey, he had been the Ministerial head of the Railway Department and two members of the railway service had wished to become candidates. He gave his consent in each case. Neither candidate was successful. One of them resumed duty after the election and the other stayed outside the service. Then the question of the privileges of members of the public service was raised in the House, and hd had a Bill prepared that would have made it clear that the- State employees could become candidates. The Bill was passed by the House, but was rejected by the Legislative Council. The Upper House, continued the Prime Minister, seemed, to have considered it necessary that members of the public service should have tire consent of the heads of their departments s&fore becoming candidates. He had lately asked the law draftsman to another Bill, and he hoped to get it before the House during the present session. He did not want to restrict the rights of the civil servants at all. No objection wgs raised to members of the civil service taking part in local politics. Mr. Massey added that his own opinion was that a public servant should obtain the consent of the head of his department before becoming a candidate.