NATIONAL PARTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 273, 16 October 1936, Page 8

NATIONAL PARTY.

PALMERSTON BRANCH

RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL. A ■well-attended meeting of members of the Palmerston North branch of the New Zealand National Party was held, last evening, in the Municipal Hall. Mr W. I'. Durward was chairman. The chairman gave a short resume of recent and pending legislation, with comment tjiereon He called particular attention to Hon. W. Nash's address on “Freedom,” given in Auckland, and pointed out that in New Zealand real freedom had almost disappeared. “Every piece of legislation passed has taken away something from the rights of the individual, and every Act provides for compulsion, and nearly every clause is at the discretion of the Minister,” said the chairman. He stated that unless they organised to combat this tyranny, the freedom won after hundreds of years of struggle would be completely lost. A number of suggestions came from members on matters to be brought up at the divisional conference to be held in "Wellington next week. A short address on or rather on the lack of it in New Zealand, was given by Dir J. M. Gordon. The speaker quoted figures in connection with armaments in various countries, and showed that, of them all, New Zealand was the least prepared to offer any resistance to a possible foe. He urged all present to take an interest in this momentous question, not with the idea of making war but of being in a position to defend "the best little country in the world” should the necessity arise. The secretary reported that enrolments of members had increased considerably since the last meeting. A number of new members enrolled at the meeting.