THE CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 49, 26 August 1935, Page 10

THE CONFERENCE

'OFFICIAL .REPORT

CANDIDATES FIND COMMON

GROUND

1 The official report of proceedings is as, follows: —

"The conference, of candidates of the Democrat Party, held in the board room,of the Commercial Travellers' Club,' Wellington, commenced on Wednesday,' August 21, at 10.30 a.m., and the discussions, continued throughout Wed- . nesday, Wednesday night, Thursday, Thursday night, and concluded' on Friday, at 2 p.m. All the candidates were' accounted for; \those not able to be-present.forwarded apologies. "His ;Worship the Mayor (Mr. T. C. -- A. -Hislop, C.M.G.) was elected chair- > man- of the conference, and Dr. G. J. AdSuhs, of ;Wanganui, deputy chairman. "The conference quickly settled down to-serious consideration of policy proposals, that had been compiled as a result .of the work of sub-committees .that; have been investigating these matters over a period of some months, inithe different provincial areas. The most striking feature of the conference was-the manner in which candidates from every part of New Zealand found common ground on policy matters. ."After the luncheon adjournment on Thursday, Mr. T C. A. Hislop was selected as~ leader of the party. His entry'into the conference room was marked by scenes of tumultuous en- - thusiasm. Cheer upon cheer rang out, and'the lusty singing of 'For He's a Jolly .Good Fellow,' brought heads to every window in adjacent buildings. , THE LEADER'S ACCEPTANCE; "Miv Hislop, in accepting the position" said:— It is .with-feelings of profound emo- \ tion -that I. rise to thank you for the . -honour you\have done me. No man ,could but be. moved to the very depths of his being by this expression, bf. trust. It is with a full sense 'of .responsibility to the people of this country and with a recognition of ,'th'e1 greatness of the task, that I accept the leadership. * -I know, from all that has been said: arid done in this room during the past days, that in accepting the office you now v offer me, I accept , the leadership of a band of able, sincere men and women, filled with a high sense of public duty. ■ The unity of purpose, the enthusiasm for the task, the faith in the basic ■ principles of true democracy that has marked- these deliberations, fnXine with a sense of complete confidence', in the result. Let us now each set ourselves to the task, and with faith in our ideals, with every effort of mind, body, and spirit, press on in the fight. ■ From here we shall go to every part ■of this country _and carry oui message to the people, i; f Let us work so that the Parliameni of this country may be - restored tc its .rightful place in the minds 01 the people—a place where it wil have their respect and their confid ence. ..Let us work so that no man, nc woman, and no child in this countrj shall'eat their daily bread embittered % with a sense of charity. Let us work so that each agair may go to his daily task with a sens< ;of ,pride and, security. Let us work so that happiness, con tentment, and confidence may be re stored in 'this glorious country. ". dedicate myself to this cause. ' DEPUTY LEADERS. ■ v '."The.conference decided that two de puty-leaders should be appointed—on in :'the i South Island, and one in th North. Mr..W.. A..Veitch, M.P. fo "Wanganui, was selected for the Nortl arid tthe selection of the southern de puty/was postponed until a later dat( /'Towards the close of the conferenc splendid reports by the candidates c progress and of favourable publi opinion in their areas revealed the fac that; the party would succeed at th coming > elections. "During the conference proceeding , a .presentation was made to the chi< executive officer, Mr. A. E. Davy. "The chairman, on behalf of the a sembled candidates, thanked the D minion executive and members of tr various provincial executives througl out New Zealand, for the patriot spirit they had displayed in commen ing'the organisation, for their gener sity_in; .the expenditure of time ar money, and stated that to have ti ■work completed in the short time the x had had at their disposal, was really x masterpiece of political organisation i "The:conference was in every way complete success. The party has no been-, definitely launched. The siren OU3 endeavours that have been made wreck-it have all completely faile and-the 'party will go to the polls full -strength, with a complete compj ment of, candidates, a sound and pre tical ..policy, • and a most able and d tinguished leader. ■• THREE MAIN FACTS. "Jzi view of the distorted and v veracious stories of the conference t pearing in some papers, the Democi executive would draw the attention the/public to the following facts:— '1. That" the Leader of the pai was'chosen on the second day of t conference, after the luncheon < ' journment. 2. The conference was marked absolute loyalty and enthusiasm the part of all candidates. 3. The report of the conference v held"'up: pending the fmalisation

the work of several sub-committees, which carried on over Friday. At the conclusion of the conference, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— . "That all candidates of this -Democrat Conference assembled; in Wellington wish to place on record their unanimous and unswerving loyalty to their distinguished statesman leader, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, and they extend to him their wholehearted co-operation in the fullest sense of the term'; and further, affirm their resolute determination to ensure the return of the party at the polls, .and the establishment of a Government on a sound and democratic basis, in the true interests of the people as a whole, including the Maori race." "The conference concluded with lusty cheers for the leader and the deputy leader, arid the singing of 'God Save. the King.' ' "The Dominion executive appeals with every confidence to the citizens of New Zealand to come forward now and assist the Democrat candidates, not in the interests of the party, but directly in the interests of New Zealand. "The question of the publication of the names of the candidates was left in the hands of the divisional executives." ~.-...