NATIONAL PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 67, 16 February 1939, Page 11

NATIONAL PARTY

CAMPAIGN PLANNED. TO AROUSE PUBLIC. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Eeb. 15. “If our people are not concerned at the present state of our country they should be. It will be our job to try to awaken them to a sense of their public responsibility, a responsibility lor the future welfare of our people that they cannot lightly escape,” said the Leader of the Opposition (lion. A. Hamilton), in announcing a National Party campaign to inform and educate public opinion in New Zealand about the truth of the situation as the National Party sees it. “I may bo asked what we propose to do further now that the Prime Minister has refused to call Parliament together to consider the present state of affairs in New Zealand. He states that there are no special circumstances and no drift to-day that would warrant such a course.

“AVhilo we most accept tlio Prime Minister’s assurances, many of us have grave doubts about the present position, and also about the future of our country,” said Air Hamilton. “As members of the National Party we must now accept the only alternative that is open to us, that of informing and educating public opinion about the truth of the situation as we see it. This wo intend to do from time to time, both through the daily Press and from the platform. “I expect to he leaving soon for Wellington, where I shall arrange lor this public campaign. Electors, however, must themselves accept responsibility for the present situation, as it was they who placed the present Government in power. I hope to visit personally most of the electorates before the ordinary session begins, meeting our supporters and discussing with them the more serious aspects of government and the necessity for keeping out organisation in good fighting trim so that we can play our full part in the government of our country whenever the necessity may arise and whatever form it- may take. “Many persons may he restless because of what has happened since the elections,” said Mr Hamilton, “but it must not 1* forgotten that we of the National Party stand by our British democratic system of government and its method of election. The effective time, therefore, to talk and fight is before an election. It is the electors’ votes that govern this country when the fight is over and the people have expressed their choice. It is for each to get on with his job, and we are going to get on with our task of informing and educating public opinion about ways and means of obtaining a sound and progressive Government in New Zealand.

"Our great heritage is at stake, a heritage that has been built up over the past century. This heritage has been the nride of our people and has obtained for us a prominent place in the minds and hearts of our British people.” Air Hamilton concluded.