BY-ELECTIONS REVIEWED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 2

BY-ELECTIONS REVIEWED

NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE. AVELLINGTON, Aug. 23.

Speaking at the annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand National Party today', the president (Air W. J. Sim, K.C.) said the present state of the party organisation could be understood from a short review of the three by-elections which the party had contested during the last 12 months —Avarua, Hamilton and Dunedin North. The first and second were straight out wins for the party; the third was, in substance, a win, although it did not return their candidate to Parliament —it could be described as a good slogging match which the National Party won on points. “The success in these elections, said Air Sim, “was due to the presence of a good candidate supported by good organisation, and great loyalty and enthusiastic energy on the part of the local supporters. The candi-

dates were all New Zealand-born, of proved integrity, and ranking high in public esteem, a fact proved at the outset by their passing through the critical test of selection for the honour of being a candidate. “AVith these features common to all the candidates, let me mention some points where they differ. In the Avarua candidate, Air Herron, we had a farmer with long practical experience in farming and other matters affecting primary production, who had played a prominent part in public affairs of his province for many years. Mrs Ross, in Hamilton, had wide experience in local body affairs, having been deputy-Alayor of her city, and held in high esteem by the whole community as a great humanitarian worker. Air Jones, for Dunedin North, was a .young returned soldier whose courage in war was almost eclipsed by his courageous conduct of the campaign. He showed that he had in a remarkably short number of years assimilated a shrewd knowledge of men and affairs.

“In this group of candidates there is to be found a small cross-section of the National Party, each a type, standing on his individual ground, prepared to make contributions to the affairs of the nation based upon wide practical experience. “Although we have solid ground for satisfaction,” continued Air Sim, “I conclude these remarks by adding that there is no ground for complacency. Those personal qualities which we wish to see universal in New Zealand—such as self-reliance, integrity and honest performance of duty—can he practised from day to day within and in the building of the party itself; and if they are, I have little doubt as to the invigorating influence which the National Party will assert in the rebuilding of New Zealand.”