NEED FOR UNITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1937, Page 7

NEED FOR UNITY

NATIONAL PARTY’S POLICY

[pee 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 a Communist dictator may be nearer than you think,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. 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 building up its organisation. Some of the newspapers had called upon him to state his policy, Mr. Hamilton continued. 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 members of the Party throughout New Zealand. 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, not a machine, and the Parliamentary party would be 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 lately, 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 the aims and objects of the National Party, expressing confidence in Mr. Hamilton as its leader, and affirming the principle of unity in Parliamentary opposition.