PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 173, 18 April 1942, Page 6

PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTION

National Party’s Decision IMPERATIVE NEED FOR UNITY STRESSED

Recent political developments following the Easter conference of the Labour Party were discussed- yesterday by the Dominion Council of the New Zealand National -Party, attended Dy delegates from all parts of New Zealand, and the following resolution was adopted unanimously:— “Recognizing the imperative need for the greatest measure of unity, -co-operation, and sacrifice in this hour of national emergency, when the safety and security, of the people of New Zealand, and the future of our entire social, industrial, aud economic system are at stake, the National. Party deplores the decision of the Labour Party’s Easter conference to deny to the Prime Minister his right to take the steps he considers essential to a maximum war effort by the consolidation of political forces and the formation of a nonparty wartime Government. In-view of the decision of the Labour conference to complete its own preparations for a general election, and in view of the Prime Minister’s clear indication that the election campaign is likely to be of short duration, the National Party has no alternative but to accept the position forced upon it and to prepare for a general election as quickly as possible.” Amplifying the resolution of the Dominion Council, the president, Mr. Alex. Gordon, said the leader of the party, Mr. Holland, had given a full account of the steps he and the Parliamentary party had taken to give the people a lead by urging the formation of a national Government so ns to increase New Zealand’s war effort, but now that the Easter conference of the Labour Party had decided not to follow the Prime Minister’s advice, but instead to break off all negotiations for consolidating political forces, and to prepare immediately for a general election, the National Party had no option but to do the same. Decisions had, therefore, been reached to complete preparations for a- general election, for which plans had been interrupted when the elections were postponed last year in the hope of a national Government being formed. It was also decided, to hold the annual conference of the party In Wellington at an early date.

The Rev. Ashleigh Petch, who has been appointed supply minister for the current year at the Taranaki Street Methodist Church in succession to the late Rev. Percy Paris. Mr. Petch will commence his ministry tomorrow, when he will conduct both mqjning and evening services.