LONG SERVICE TO LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26516, 3 September 1951, Page 8

LONG SERVICE TO LABOUR

MR NASH’S WORK

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) has been a member of Parliajnent since 1929 when he was elected to the Hutt seat. Mr Nash, who became Acting-Leader of the Opposition when Mr Fraser entered hospital before his death, was elected leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party in this year. Mr Nash was bom at Kidderminster, England, in 1882. He came to New Zealand in 1909 and later became closely associated with the founders of the Labour Party in New Zealand. In 1918 he formed a branch of the Labour Party at New Plymouth and in 1922 he became National secretary of the party. In the first Labour cabinet Mr Nash was one of the most heavily burdened Ministers. In addition to the portfolios of Finance and Customs he was responsible for eight other departments. He was instrumental in securing the passage of several Important pieces of legislation. Mr Nash was appointed New Zealand Minister in Washington in December, 1941, a post which he held

concurrently as a member of the New Zealand cabinet. As Minister for Finance and also for Marketing in the War Cabinet he played an important part in the conduct of the Dominion's war effort.