MASTERTON SEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 3

MASTERTON SEAT

NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE f TWO NOMINATIONS. MR G. H. MACKLEY AND MAJOR R. A. C. SELBY. Two nominations have been received for the National Party’s candidate to contest the Masterton seat at the forthcoming general election —Mr G. H. Mackley and Major R. A. C. Selby. The candidate to contest the seat will be selected by postal ballot, which is to close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6. The result of the ballot will be announced the same night. Mr Mackley, who was born in Port Chalmers, was educated at the Invercargill Grammar School and entered the New Zealand Railways as a cadet at Otautau in 1900. He was chief clerk in Christchurch in 1907, stationmaster at Heriot in 1913, chief clerk at head office in 1928, and graduated through all branches of the Railways service on the traffic operating side, serving as a station clerk, stationmaster, Transport and train-running officer. He was assistant general manager from 1931 to 1933 and from then until 1939, when he retired, he was general manager. During the 1914-18 war he championed the loyalty of Dalmatians in New Zealand. He was awarded the C.M.G. in 1938 and was a recipient of the Coronation and Jubilee medals. Mr Mackley, who resides at Lower Hutt, is now managing director of the Whakatane Panel 'Mills.

Major Selby, who is a returned soldier of the present war, is a farmer. He was born in Palmerston North, a son of Mr F. L. Selby, a well-known Dannevirke farmer, and later took up mixed farming at Ormondville. Taking a keen interest in farming affairs, he was for some years a member of the committee of the Dannevirke A. and P. Association, and is a member of the Farmers’ Union. He is also an enthusiastic follower of sport and has played in first-grade football. Major Selby served for some time in the Territorials and on the outbreak of war. he enlisted for overseas service, leaving New Zealand with the Second Echelon. By promotion overseas, he rose to the rank of Captain and returned to New Zealand in 1941. After a period of convalescence he was graded fit for home defence duties. He then rejoined his Territorial unit and rose to the rank of Major. Major Selby is well-known locally as second-in-command of the Wellington-East Coast Mounted Rifles. He is a member of the R.S.A. For the past three years, Major Selby’s wife and family have resided in Masterton.