NATIONAL PARTY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 12

NATIONAL PARTY

Resignation of Sir G. Wilson STATEMENT BY MR. L. ALDERTON Resolution of Auckland Division By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland. November 18. lu a statement to-day regarding tlie resignation of Sir George Wilson from the position of president of the National Political Party. Mr. Lisle Aiderton. chairman of the Auckland division of the party, said it was quite true that tlie Auckland provincial executive had not approved of the Hou. Adam Hamilton's selection as leader, but it was quite untrue that that decision was the result of anything in tlie nature of intrigue or political manoeuvring. The issue came before a fully representative meeting' of the provincial executive last week, and delegates came from as far north as the Bay of Islands and Kaipara. and as far south as Waitonio. As chairman of the executive, Mr. Aiderton reported on the decision of the Dominion council meeting on the issue of leadership. By tin overwhelming majority the delegates to the Auckland executive meeting declined to support that decision. Personally, said Mr. Aiderton, he made a sincere but unsuccessful appeal for support for Mr. Hamilton. As chairman he was bound to say that he was convinced that there was no lobbying before that meeting and nothing in the nature of intrigue or political manoeuvring. The discussion had been notable for its candour and the resolution carried would have to be accepted its representing the sincere and unprejudiced conviction of delegates. The resolution was as follows :— “That this meeting of tlie Auckland provincial committee of the National Party urges the Dominion council to reconsider the appointment of leader of the party for the following reasons: (a) That this meeting views with alarm tlie cold response from the Auckland province given to the appointment of Mr. Hamilton as leader, (b) That Mr. Hamilton’s nomination was carried by National members of Parliament by one vote only over Mr. C. A. Wilkinson’s nomination. “(c) That the majority of delegates attending the Dominion council in Wellington favoured Mr. Wilkinson’s nomination. “(d) That it is felt that the National Party should be a new jtnd distinctive party and not a continuance of tlie late Government or of either of the two parties. Reform or United. “(e) That for the harmonious and effective bringing together of tlie two parties the leader should have been dissociated from other Government parties in the past. "(f) That the majority of the National members of Parliament favoured Mr. "Wilkinson’s nomination and that the projected appointment was most favourably received in the Auckland, province.” CHARGE OF INTRIGUE Sir G. Wilson Replies to Mr. Aiderton

LEADERSHIP QUESTION

Bv Telegraph-Press.- Association Auckland, Novein her 18.

A definite allegation that there has been persistent intrigue over the question of leadership of the National Political Party was made by the former president. Sir George Wilson, in commenting on a statement made by the chairman of the Auckland divisional council, Mr. Lisle Alderton, regarding recent developments affecting the party. “In announcing my resignation from the presidency.” Sir George said, "I made it clear that Ibis action had been forced on nn“ by certain political manoeuvrings within the parly. 1 pointed out that Mr. Hamilton had been selected aS leader in succession Io Mr. b’orbes, and that, the party owed him its undivided loyally. When I found that a movement was persisting in favour of transferring .the leadership to Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. M.P. for Egmont, I decided that the only course open to me was to sever my official connection with a party which apparently had such an elastic conception of the principles of Ipyalty. “Air. Aiderton now says that the Auckland provincial executive of the National Party has not approved of Mr. Hamilton’s selection as leader, but, denies that there lias been anything in lhe nature of intrigue or political manoeuvring. All 1. have Io say is that a member of Hie National Party in Parliament. Mr. W. .1. Broadfoot, attended a meeting in Auckland last week and spent some time in criticising lhe selection of Mr. Hamilton for the leadership, stressing certain alleged political weaknesses on the part of the man whom a few weeks ago he had undertaken to support. If that does not suggest intrigue then I have never understood the meaning of the word. “I understand that before the choice of the new leader was made the Auckland divisional council of the party decided to support the claims of Mr. Wilkinson, and that delegates from Auckland who attended the meeting of the Dominion Council on the day when the session of Parliament closed gave expression to this support. However, the Parliamentary members of the party chose Mr. Hamilton as their leader, although Mr. Wilkinson was also put forward as a candidate for office, and, I believe, received a measure of support from a considerable section of I lie Parliamentary Party An examination of the position terminated in Hie selection of Mr Hamilton unanimously, with no necessity for the question to go to a ballot. His selection was subsequently endorsed by I lie Dominion Council. “I do not know how lhe impression has been gained by the Auckland council that there was a margin of only one vote over Mr. Wilkinson’s nomination There can be no question that the Auckland delegates to the Dominion council did their best to abide by this decision, but discussion at the meeting last week showed clearly that at least a group of members .still hopes to put Mr. Wilkinson in the leadership. A resolution urging the Dominion council to reconsider the appointment of the lender had been prepared beforehand, and, to my mind, appeared io be an attempt to undermine Mr. Hamilton’s authority. Differences of opinion may still exist

as to the suitability of the candidates for the leadership, but once a leader has been appointed there can bo no excuse for lack of loyalty. It hits been proved that Air. Wilkinson is not acceptable to the majority of the party, ami refusal to accept that position strikes at the very foundations of the party’s structure. “Personally, 1 am of opinion that intrigue has not been noticeable among supporters of the party in the country. It has sprung from a group of members in the House of Representatives and from one or two members and ex-mem-bers of the Legislative Council with former party affiliations. “Although I have resigtiej front the presidency of the National Party, I still hope for the vigorous growth of a sound political organisation to oppose the policy of the Government of the day and to put forward a progressive programme based on principles which aim at conserving individual initiative, enterprise and liberty'. Unless a better spirit can be shown than that which has become evident during tlie last few days, the ideal which 1 have mentioned cannot possibly be attained.” MR. HAMILTON’S REGRET Did Not Court Leadership I By Telegraph—Press Association t Invercargill. November 18. . “This morning’s newspaper report was the first I knew of the resignation of Sir George Wilson as president of the'National Political Party.” said the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Adam Hamilton, in a statement to-night. “1 very much regret that'a situation should have arisen that would cause him to make this decision, because he was unanimously elected by the party and he has done splendid work to organise it and place it. on a sound footing. "I think it will be generally realised that 1 did not court the position of leader of the party. After full consideration on two different occasions both by the Parliamentary group and the Dominion council of the National Party T was chosen to be their leader. I was assured of a loyal following both inside the House and outside of it. I expect to be in tlie Auckland district next week, when I shall have the opportunity to meet members of the Auckland executive.” MR. WILKINSON WILL NOT COMMENT Trip to England Next Year By Telegraph—Press Association. Hawei’a, November 18. Mr. C, A. Wilkinson, when interviewed regarding Sir George Wilson’s resignation, saitl he had no comment to make. When asked if there was any truth in the rumour that he was going to England and would resign from tlie party, Mr. Wilkinson saitl he was going to England on a private trip in February, but would be back before the session opened. GREATER UNITY MOLL BE OUTCOME Chairman is Confident DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES INEVITABLE "t very much regret Sir George Wilson’s retirement,” said Mr. Claude H. Weston, K.C., chairman of the executive of the National Party, in commenting last night upon the president’s decision. “He lias been of immense service to the party and personally is very popular with all its members,

"Differences of this kind are bound to arise when two candidates for office have enthusiastic .supporters, but tlie majority must rule in a democratic country', and tlie Parliamentary party iu Opposition as well as the delegates to the Dominion Council of the National Party acknowledged this by both passing unanimous resolutions are proving of Mr. Hamilton's appointment.

“I am sure the good sense of the men ami women in control of the National Party throughout New Zealand will be able to overcome what after all is a domestic difference. I cannot but think that the reaction to the ‘postmortem’ to which we have treated our political opponents will be a still stronger determination to close up our ranks in the fight, against Socialism. “We tire faced with a contest with doughty opponents who let the publie litivc no hint of any family troubles —if they have any. Unless we are united, we fail.’