NATIONAL PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 9

NATIONAL PARTY

. * . AUCKLAND DIVISION:

RUMOUR OF SPLIT DENIED:

(By Telegraph—Press Association.).

AUCKLAND, September 7?

Rumours that the resignation of Mi*. Lisle Alderton and of the executive,'of the Auckland division' of the National Party heralded' a split, in the party kn this city met with an immediate denjal from the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, from Mr. Alderton, and from other National Party, offic&rs when they were questioned following the morning session of the annual conference'of the division today. ';j • "It has, been merely a happy; reorganisation and there has "hot been the slightest thought of any division in our forces,"-said .Mr. '■■'. Hamilton. "Naturally we represent a body people who are not disciplined-like file Labour forces. We believe-in the Utmost freedom and we expect '.the

utmost loyalty. ■ '■ . ■ ;' t "The fact that today we have elected Mr. George Mills, a prominent old United Party executive and an exMayor of Birkenhead as our Auckland chairman, indicates we are keeping ;to the spirit of the National Party. «It was a very happy and- very enthusiastic meeting and the officers were elected unanimously. . . J "The National Party has never been so well organised in.its history as tpday, and I have never before seen such political interest in every section, of it c community. It is a happy augury at a period when the election is not yet jin sight. It is very encouraging to hear reports from rural districts and to hear also of the progress being'made ■ ell over the country." ' If Questioned regarding his resignation, Mr. Lisle Alderton laughed at the suggestion that he had resigned from the presidency of the Auckland.clivision because of a difference of.opinion w{th other members. It was'merely that Jie had found the task too onerous to carry ■on in addition to his other activities. !He said it; was indicative of his position in the,-party. that the division h&d recommended him as national vi{epresident.. ,' ij. : Similar denials were made by otqer officers of the party,: it being pointed but that the officers were elected only for a year andthat in the present Initance there had been no suggestion of any split in 'the ranks causing memliers to resign in a body. The party was merely reorganising its forces^ ' Present at the conference today w«re the Leader of the party, Mr. Hamilton, abd the Dominion president^ Colonel a H. Weston, K.C. Mr. G. Mills Yjas elected chairman, with the following cJntral executive: Dr7 Hilda Nbrthcngft, Messrs. F. W. Doidgei C. George, .&-. Alderton, J. Grierson (all re-electeß). Maxwell "Walker, J. W. Kealy, A..iG. Quartley, A. Grayson, G. L. Tayter, D Hay, J. M. Melville, and Coloriel Spragg. Messrs. Mills and Geo^e were elected metropolitan members.of the .Dominion council and Mr. Aldergm iwas -recommended to the Dominipn 'council as Dominion vice-president.^ i k Mr. B. G. Edwards, divisional organdser, "reported on the activities of .Qic ■party in the province, stating that th4re I was-considerable progress in #ie country districts, particularly at Harqu!ton:. He also addressed the meeting, (expressing his satisfaction with the process of organisation throughout New.. Zealand. This afternoon members! Jor jthe conference were addressed J>y iColonel -Weston. , ':