NATIONAL PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 14

NATIONAL PARTY

FOE COUNTRY'S SAFETY

"ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL"

MEMORANDUM TO LEADERS

The memorandum which is being forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition by proniin-' ent professional and business men in Auckland, urging the formation of a National Government, presents the following resolutions: — ,

(1) "That this meeting of signatories of the memorandum addressed early in April to the Prime Minister and the Loader of the Opposition, urging that the United and Reform parties should get together, is -convinced that a National Party, inclusive of all political sections, is absolutely essential to the future welfare and safety of the Dominion; and that its formation is sooner or later inevitable.

(2) "That the meeting feels very strongly that the possibilities of the formation of a strong National Party should be explored in conference between all political parties.

(3) "That in furtherance of the foregoing resolutions the meeting urges everyone, inside and outside of Parliament, to give the matter earnest consideration from a national standpoint, and with no thought of party.

"In view of the national emergency existing at the present time, and which threatens to become more acute," the signatories state, "we, the undorsigned, support the above resolutions, being convinced that a National Government, irrespective of party, can alone have the weight and authority to meet and deal with the critical position in which the Dominion now finds itself.'

"We further consider that public opinion should be- made so strong that no one would be encouraged to defend the interests of any existing party, and every avenue should be explored to bring into being a national or New Zealand movement, wherein a policy could be framed and, adopted, which would have as its basis the national in r torests of the Dominion as a whole."

This document is signed by a large number of citizens, including: Albert Spencer, A. E. Whitaker, J. Milne, Leonard J. Coakley, L. A. Eady, John W. Shackelford, Thos. B. Arthur, A. W. New Zealand (Bishop of Auckland), J. Williamson, G. S. Poole* Sidney Takle, E. E. Kitchener, F. Kneebone, Geo. W. Hutchison, J. F. Shanly, T. U. "Wells, Thomas Lament, Kenneth Mackenzie, T Dearsly, .T. E. Robertson, W. B. Darlow, T. Davidson, J. "Wiseman, W. H. Faulkner, N. Wiseman, F. Wiseman, F. J. Hutchinson, W. S. Bloomfield, H. M. Wade, H. Craig, M. Stewart, C. F. Bennett, A. Lunn, E. Anderson, P. Butler, "W. C. Lewisham, F. M. "Winstone, A. Bankart, R. 8. Newcomb, E. Russell, V. J. Lamer, H. O. Nolan, J. W. R. Coates, D. L. Nathan, E. Brown, W. B. Colbeck, N. Alfred Nathan, Brian L. Hewitt,, N. L. Macky, J. H. Gunson, A. M. Seaman, C. J. Tunks, "W. Graham Bell, "W. Coltman, G. K. Hansard, H. Furness, H. T. Merritt, 11. E. Vaile, J. W. Hardley, C. H. Furness, G. Archey, W. A. Boucher, F. M. Hills, D. Carter, D. Holderness, N. Wade, C. M. Richwhite, C. Rhodes.

The Auckland "Star" says' it is learned that the signatures were obtained in a' few hours, and that thousands of other signatures could have been obtained if the promoters of the movement had so desired.