The Parnell Fight

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 47, 27 March 1930, Page 6

The Parnell Fight

Special to Telegraph.

1nterest mounting Prime Minister To Take Platform SELECTION OF CANDIDATES.

AUCKLAND, This day. Interest in the forthcoming "by-elec-jfcion for the Parnell seat is rapidly inounting. The names of prospective candidates are still as plentiful as blackberries, but the hard fact remains that all the official decisions have still to be xnade and several days must elapse 'before material progress can be inade with the selection problem. Meanwhile Mr W. C. Hewitt, who carried the United Party's banner in the Auckland Central contest at the last general election, left Auckland for Putaruru yesterday. leaving behind him a statement that he would definitely be a Liberal-Labour candidate at the by-election. Mr Hewitt is resident in the Parnell district. PRIME MINISTER'S INTENTIONS. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of a chat over the telephone from Rotorua, gave it as his intention to speak in Auckland during the Parnell by-elec-tion, not so much for the purpose of directly influencing the 'constituency immediately concerned, as to expose some of the flagrant misstatements • that -had been mad© . concernihg the United party and himself. . . Sir Joseph said he did not for . a mihute wish his , passing indisposition to close the mouths of his critics. They were_ entitled _ to denounce his policy and its adniinistration as they pleased —that was party politics — but he objected to flagrant misstatements reflecting upon himself and his colleagues being bandied about the eountry by party newspapers and political perverts, .who either knew nothing about the facts or made a practice of distorting them. Whether or not his medical attendants will allow Sir Joseph to take a strenuous part in the approaching campaign remains to be seen, but his appearance on the platform in 'Auckland at the present juncture would add very materially to the interest of the impending contest. LABOUR'S ATTITUDE. Speaking at Ngatea, Mr M. J. Savage, M.P. for Auckland West and Deputy-Leader of the Labour Party, prophesied that when Parliament recpened the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. J. G. Coates) would undoubtedly niove a vote of no-confidence. The attitude of the Labour Party would depend on wliat the Government proposed to do. Mr Savage, who has returned to Auckland, stated this morning that anything might happen next session. If the Government did anything tben that was worth while, the sensihle thing would be to help it, but if it gave evidence of domg nothing it would have to he put out. Mr Savage had no further comment to make concerning the Parnell byeleetion, and eould not intimate whether the Leader of the Labour party ,(Mr H. Holland) would enter the contest. It was probable, however, that hei would do so. REFORM'S POSITION. Th© Leader of the Opposition, Right Hon. J. G, Coates, who paid a flying visit to Wellington, denied in an interview that Mr H. R. Jenkins had approached him for the official Reform nomination. Mr Coates said that in the course of a conversation, Mr Jenkins had discussed politics generally, but Mr Coates had stated that he could offer no advice to the member. He had explained, liowever, that he would expect his party to aceept a member if he joined it by walking across the floor of the House during session. Mr Coates was jdisincliued to discuss the. question of.the selection of the.' Reform can^i'date for Parnell, stating that the "choice was a matter for, the Parnell branch pf the. party to deterinine. The -Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, on Satui-dav attended a preliminary meeting of the United organisation. ,Mr Stallworthy stated fchat the Auckland hrancli had its preparations well in hand and he expected that the United selection from the several candidates in prospect would he announeed at an early date.

POSTAL VOTING. Parnell electors who may be in Hawke's Bay on polling day, or who, by reason of illness or infirmity, may be unable to visit a polling 'bootli, are advised by the Electoral Department to avail themselves of tbe facilities of postal voting. Postal vote certificates and postal ballot pape'rs are issued by the returning officer after the issue of the writ and before tbe time prescribed for the close of the poll. It is important to remember that every postal hallot paper accompanied by the respective postal vote certificate, must 'be delivered at the returning officers' offiqe before the tirne preseriebd for elosing the poll. Otherwise the vote will be marked as informal. - S?