TRUE PEOPLE’S PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 12

TRUE PEOPLE’S PARTY

MR HAMILTON OH NATIONAL AIM [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 12. > “ If democracy is to succeed in this country there must not be more than two parties. The alternative to democracy is Fascism or Communism, and the Communist dictator may be nearer than you think,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Adam Hamilton, in an address to supporters of the National Party to-night. Mr Hamilton appealed for tolerance and loyalty in the drafting of the party’s policy and in the building up of its organisation. Some of the newspapers had called upon him to state his policy, Mr Hamilton said. His reply to such demands was that the policy of the National Party would not be drawn up by him or by the present parliamentary Opposition, but by the members of the party throughout New Zealand. The parliamentary representatives would, of course, pass judgment upon it before it was finally adopted. The aim was to create a true people’s party on really democratic lines, and the party would he in closer contact with its supporters than ever in the past. “ We are all fairly liberal and progressive in these days,” Mr Hamilton remarked. “ This is no time for a divided Opposition. As you know, I have travelled a good deal about this country latterly, and from what I have learned I am convinced that 90 per cent, of our supporters want only one organisation lined up against the Government at the next election.” The meeting, which was attended by several hundred people, carried resolutions approving of the aims and objects of the National Party, expressing confidence in Mr Hamilton as its leader, and affirming the principle of unity in the parliamentary Opposition.