NATIONAL PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1937, Page 5

NATIONAL PARTY

A MEETING HELD DOMINION COUNCIL CONFER. (Per Press Association —Copyright). WELLINGTON, May 19. A fully-attended meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand National Party was held in Wellington to-day. The following were present:—Mr C. H. Weston, K.C. (president), the Hqn Adam (Hamilton, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, Messrs E. E. Hammond (Wellington), .T. Milliken (Christchurch) and J. G. Jeffrey, (Dunedin), the Hon F. Waite, M.L.C. (Balclutha), Messrs H. G. Dickie, M.P. i(Hawera), H. S. S. Kyle, M.P. (Riccarton), J. W. Allen (Piako),F. W. Doidge (Auckland), C. George (Auckland), F. W. Kelly (Hastings), .J: H. Irving (Masterton), B. McLeod (Oroua), H. Gridley (Blenheim), K. C. Duckworth (Hawera), J. H. McIlroy (Wellington), ’H. G A Livingstone (Christchurch), H. C. Stevens (Christchurch), C. Hedges (Oamaru), C. B. Tapley' (Invercargill), and S. T. Dibble (Dominion Secretary). In addition to the council, members of the publicity committee were present, and reported that the first numbers of the “National News,” the monthly official journal .of the party, had been sent out to every electorate. Other forms of publicity were reported on, and the committee was thanked for its services.

Reports on •organlisation showed that membership of the party had exceeded all expectations. .It was reported that the increasingly heavy costs now being inflicted through the Governments policy made organising comparatively easy. Especially among farmers was there resentment at rising costs. In the cities women were joining up in large numbei’s, as the increasing cost of living bore very heavily on family incomes. The visits of National members of Parliament to electorates outside their own had given the general public much information as to the j serious trend of national affairs. This campaign, it was stated, will be continued and intensified. The council devoted a considerable ' time to arranging an agenda for the annual Dominion conference of the party, which will be held at Wellington in August. Appreciative ; references were made to the very favourable Lnnression . created by the leader throughout the Dominion, -and the following resolution, was enthusiastically carried: “That this meeting of the Dominion council, attended by members from all parts of Now Zealand, place on record its deep appreciation of the splendid work done by the party leader ,the Hon iulam Hamilton, during his recent comprehensive tour of the Dominion. The important task of consolidating anti-socialist forces mils for a leader of exceptional qualifications. This council feels that the party was fortunate and happv i»> its choice of Mr Hamilton 'as leader and is confident, under his leadership. of victory at the next election.” t