NATIONAL PARTY EXECUTIVE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 6

NATIONAL PARTY EXECUTIVE

PREPARATIONS FOR

ELECTION BOUNDARY CHANGES DISCUSSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 3. Changes in electoral boundaries were among the matters discussed at a meeting of the Dominion executive of the National Party held in Wellington today. In a statement after the meeting, the president, Mr W. J. Sim, K.C., said that there had been a full attendance of members from each of the five divisions. The leader of the party, Mr S. G. Holland, in presenting a report on hie recent speaking tour throughout New Zealand following the successful Raglan by-election, had reported overflow attendances, which Were evidence that a swing in public Opinion in the North Island was equally evident in the South Island even in such a traditional Labbour stronghold as Greymouth. The five divisional ehairmen, all of * horn were present, had given a detailed report on changes In their areas and had reported on prospects for the General Election. Their opinion had been that, notwithstanding the fact that six seats held by National Party members had been wiped out, a careful review had given every ground for confidence In the party’s prospects of gaining a majority next-November. It was stated that the National Party had preparations well ahead for the selection of candidates as soon as the final findings of the representation commission are known. To-day’s meeting decided to adhere strictly to the principle embodied in the rules of the National Party that candidates shall be selected by a secret ballot of financial' members of the party in each electorate.

The meeting also transacted routine business including discussions on policy, remits from party branches, and preliminary preparations for the General Election campaign. Mr Sim said that the efficient fashion in which radical changes in electorates had been dealt with by the National Party was a tribute to its effective organisation and also to the enthusiasm of its officials and volunteer workers.