GOOD MEETINGS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4119, 30 March 1949, Page 8

GOOD MEETINGS

TOUR OF PENINSULA

MANY DISTRICTS VISITED SUPPORT FOR MR SUTHERLAND Commencing with a well attended meeting at Thames on the evening of March 21, Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P., Mrs Sutherland and Mr R. L. Milne, National Party organiser, last week made a tour of the Coromandel Peninsula and at all points met enthusiastic gatherings of friends and supporters. Leaving Puru, where they stayed the night, the party first stopped at Coroglen to meet the local residents and later attended a meeting in the Whenuakite hall. Here Mr Sutherland reviewed the year’s activities in Parliament and dealt with matters df local interest. At the conclusion of the meeting it was decided to re-form the local branch as the CoroglenWhenuakite branch with Mr H. Camp as president and Mr H. W. Hinds as secretary.

Proceeding on to Whitianga the party met local residents in the evening and the following morning Mr Sutherland addre»S«d 8 wel l attended meeting ip the loeM hall. Branch activities, it Was reported, were proceeding smoothly.

Taking the road north to Kuaotunu Mr Sutherland addressed a meeting in the Kuaotunu hall where local residents had assembled to meet him.

Following round the coast the -party was met at the new quarry by .the members and officials of the Coromandel County Council. They then proceeded over the new road which cuts out the old bluff road, and so through Tererenga and Whangapoua to Coromandel. En route local residents were met, problems discussed and the new soldiers’ settlement development scheme visited.

After a hasty meal in Coromandel Mr Sutherland addressed a well attended public meeting and, as at every place visited, received a vote of confidence.

The annual meeting of the Coromandel branch was held prior to the

public meeting and here Mr Milne reviewed the party’s activities in the electorate. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr J. Ailington; deputy-chairman, Mr H. Denize; secretary,- Mr W. Pringle; assistantsecretary, Mr Scott.

The next day Mr J. H. Reddy and Mr Tiller, chairman of the Colville branch, joined the party at Colville and following the beautiful scenic drive down the coast round various bays with groves of pohutukawas and then high along the cliffs Port Jackson was reached. Here, at various places along the way, local settlers had assembled over a picnic lunch .spread under the pohutukawas. In such attractive surroundings questions were asked and answered and a short address listened to with interest.

Proceeding on to Fletchers Bay the end of the road was reached. Here on a terrace high above the sea stands the modem home of Mr Stewart Jackson in park like surroundings, while down near the water’s edge stands the old cottage built in the early days by Capt. Fletcher.

The party then returned to Colville ’where another well attended meeting was addressed by Mr Sutherland, after which Mr Milne, discussed branch affairs with members.

The next day Port Charles and Sandy Bay were visited in company with Mr Tiller and Mr A. J. Denize. Here again the local residents had gathered together, some by boat, some on horseback, some on foot, from places which cannot be reached by car. About 11 miles of six foot track separates the road head at Sandy Bay from that at Fletchers Bay. Mr Sutherland is anxious to have the road fully formed to provide access for the .-settlers and also to complete the circuit of this portion of the peninsula for this can be made one of the best scenic drives in the Dominion. After Mr Sutherland’s address here a branch of the National Party was formed with Mr Bartley as chairman and Miss Irene Bartley as secretary. From Port Charles the travellers returned to Puru in time for tea and an hour’s rest after which they attended the annual meeting of the Hikutaia branch. This meeting was well attended and an enthusiastic welcome was extended to Mr and Mrs Sutherland. Mr O. Cox was re-elected chairman and Mr J. Conbett, secretary, of the branch.

A feature of the tour of the peninsula was the spirit of enthusiasm everywhere met with -and the determination of everyone to make this year decisive for the party. At all places aocommodation and refreshments were provided and nothing was

left undone to make the visit as pleasant as possible. In speaking to the press all members of the party expressed their thanks for the hospitality shown them on* their tour.