NATIONAL PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1937, Page 5

NATIONAL PARTY

LABOR ASSERTION ABOUT FORMER LEADERS. (Per Press Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. Tlie assertion that a great number oi friends of tlie Opposition Party considered that the former leaders, the Rt Hon G. \Y. for lies and tlie Rt Hon J. G. Coates, had been unfairly dealt with and deposed, was made by the .Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon I). G. Sullivan) during his speech in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of .Representatives to-day.

“1 think that the honourable gentleman is in for a fairly hard time, all the same.’’ Mr Sullivan said, when paying a tribute to the way the Hon Adam Hamilton handled his no-con-iideuee amendment. “I meet a great many people up and clown the country who are supporters of the party to which the Leader of the Opposition is attached, and there are quite a lew of Ids friends wiio feel that the previous leaders were not treated by their supporters with that fair play and decency which such men naturally were entitled to expect. “1 am quoting the opinion which supporters of the party have voiced to me,” Mr Sullivan repeated, when Mr W. •). Poison (National, Strattorcl.) laughed at lus assertion. ‘‘These people undoubtedly fee] that unfair treatment has been meted out to the two previous leaders in dropping them overboard at the very moment of their defeat. The people with whom I have discussed the matter feel very sore indeed at this lack of gratitude. Ingratitude stings, and the Leader of the Upposition will find that he will have this sting to contend with among his supporters.” ' REPLY BY MR HOLLAND. WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. “I can understand the concern ol Labour members over the aflairs of the National Thirty,” said Mr S. G. Holland (National, Christchurch North), when giving the Mouse of .Representatives a glowing account of the state of his party during the Address-in-Reply debate this evening. Mr Holland was replying to retereuees made about the National Party by the previous speaker, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon .0. G. Sullivan).

“The Minister for Industries and Commerce spent a portion of his valuable time discussing what is purely the domestic affair of the National Party,” said Mr Holland, “i can assure the Minister that the party is in excellent triin. The party has never been in better order. There has never been so much enthusiasm about it. never such a degree of support, so many new branches, and so many new members, and 1 can also assure the Minister and his colleagues that there are no compulsory unionism clauses about membership of the National Party. The party has never enjoyed such prospects of success as at file present time.”