NATIONAL PARTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 3981, 14 April 1948, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY

BRANCH IN PAEROA ANNUAL MEETING HELD OFFICERS FOR YEAR ELECTED The annual meeting of the Paeroa branch of the New Zealand National Party was held on Thursday evening in the Parish hall, Paeroa. The ehairman, Mr C. G. Jackson, presided over a fair attendance of members.

In the absence of the retiring secretary, Mrs H. V. Peart, Mr S. E. Silcock was elected to take her place for the evening. Mr Silcock moved a resolution of thanks to Mrs Peart for the work she had done, and in seconding the motion Mr A. E. Day spoke of her outstanding ability as secretary and of the inestimable value which her work had been to the National Party, particularly during the election campaign. Officers Elected Officers for the year were elected as follows:— Chairman, Mr C. G. Jackson; vicechairman, Mr J. E. Silcock; secretary, Miss V. Menzies; committee, Mesdames P. T. Speechlay, P. Taylor, Messrs V. Young, A. E. Day, W. P. Murray, N. Millar, A. F. Johansen, P. T. Speechlay, J. W. Lauder, W. F. Johnstone and A. Reid. It was decided that the committee just formed should act as the delegates to the annual provincial meeting. Mr D. G. McMillan, National Party deputy chairman for Hamaki, who.had come to address the meeting, was then introduced, and two members of the junior National club, Messrs D. Powell and A. Reid were welcomed. Attendance Deplored In bis address, Mr McMillan deplored the fact that there was not a larger attendance at the meeting. “ Paeroa is as it has been for the last twenty years,” he said. “It leaves the burden of any political work to the few willing workers and they keep to the old tradition that there is only one year in three when it is necessary to work really hard.” • Mr McMillan went on to say that if areas where their party was weaker were concentrated upon and if everybody did his or her best in the next two years “then there is every possibility of the National Party becoming the Government at the next election.” He then referred to the growing menace of Communism in New Zealand and throughout the world, and stressed the need for “action, not words ” in dealing with this force. Junior National Clubs The importance of’ senior members combining with and assisting the junior National clubs was then dealt with.

Mr McMillan closed his address by thanking the chairman for inviting him to deliver this speech, and offered to answer any questions.

Mr Jackson moved a vote of thanks to Mr McMillan and those present responded with applause. The members of the junior National club were assured of the wholehearted support and co-operation of the party, particularly in the organisation of the social evening to be held in April to 'introduce Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, and his wife to their members.

Mr J. E. Silcock brought the meeting to a close with a further vote of thanks to Mr McMillan and Mr Jackson announced that their policy for the year would be drawn up at the next executive meeting.