WOMEN’S PART

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 304, 5 October 1946, Page 4

WOMEN’S PART

ORGANISING OF NATIONAL PARTY MRS C. J. KERR AT METHVEN A most interesting and comprehensive address was delivered on Thursday evening at the Anglican Sunday School, Methven, to a mixed gathering of some 70 listeners, by Mrs C. J. Kerr, Geraldine (vice-president of the Dominion Council of the National Party), In her opening remarks, Mrs Kerr paid a tribute to Mr R. G. Gerard M.P. for Ashburton. It was an honour to Methven, Mr Gerard’s own local branch, that such a capable young man represented the electorate. Mrs Kerr stated that the National Party was organised as never previously, and this organisation was partly due to the voluntary assistance .of women throughout New Zealand. Of late there had been an ever-increasing demand chat women as. well as men take an important part in the political world. Thus it behoved everyone to fully understand their liability not only to vote but to understand for what they were voting. To do this, one must consider and rightly judge what party in the coming election promised to be most beneficial to the country at large, and also what party would keep to their promise. The history of the Labour parliament had been a succession of broken pledges. Their propaganda made quite good reading until one delved into the actual'facts stated, when it was then realised that among the half-truths and false statements published, there was a trend that would eventually be the undoing of New Zealand. The Labour Party were heading, as various labour members of parliament had openly stated, towards ultimate socialism. ,

Undoubtedly some of the labour legislation had done good, she said, but some of these ideas were the planks of the National Party’s 1943 platform.

Dealing with policy, Mrs Kerr stated that the National Party policy was compiled from actual suggestions and ideas from every class of the community. The women had played quite an important part in this. It would be very interesting on October 21 to hear from Mr Holland, how many of these suggestions had been incorporated in the 194 G platform. The speaker gave quite a number of excellent illustrations of some of these suggestions. “To ensure a change of Government we must work that democracy may live.’’ Mrs Kerr appealed to all present to do their utmost so that the National Party, the people’s party, would be the Government after the election. (

After questions, Mrs Stone moved a vote of thanks to Mrs Kerr. Mrs A. W. Wilson was in the chair.