NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26470, 11 July 1951, Page 8

NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE

DECISIONS ON REMITS MR A. MCKENZIE BECOMES PRESIDENT (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 10. The National Party’s annual Dominion conference ended shortly after midday to-day. Most of the Parliamentary members had left for Wellington the previous night. Only about 40 of the 80 remits were dealt with, the remainder being referred to the Dominion council for consideration. One remit adopted to day said that a committee should be established with a view to effecting economies. The remit, proposed by the Palmerston North branch, had been carried by a narrow majority, said the party’s Public Relations Officer. Several speakers who opposed the remit said that commitments accepted by the Government would make difficult any extensive reduction in spending at present. Several remits urging reduction in taxation, especially for lower-income groups, were among the 40 remits not handled by the conference because of lack of time.

Though these remits had not been considered, their tenor had been noted by the Government, said the retiring president (Sir Wilfrid Sim). The conference rejected a suggestion that the Tenancy Act should be amended to help owners to gain possession of homes for their own use. Delegates thought the housing position was not yet sufficiently improved to justify relaxing regulations protecting tenants.

Also rejected was an Invercargill remit, urging that the £2OO suspensory loan on £2OOO houses be made available for homes costing up to £2500. Mr A. McKenzie, chairman of the Auckland division since 1942, was installed as president of the party. Mr McKenzie, a sharebroker, underwriter, and director of several companies, is

54. Other officers elected were:—vicepresidents, Messrs J. Grierson (Auckland division), A. W. Perfitt (South Auckland). J. S. Meadowcroft (Wellington), G. H. Wood (Canterbury), J. A. Beck (Otago-Southland); women vice-presidents, Me?dames J. S. Stenhouse (South Auckland) and F. E. Burrell (Canterbury and Otago-South-lar.id): vice-president, representing the Maori race, Mr Turi Carroll (Auckland, South Auckland, and Wellington).