Beaconsfield Garden Party

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 3

Beaconsfield Garden Party

FOR NATIONAL POLITICAL INTERESTS Beautifully fine weather conditions prevailed at Beaconsfield yesterday for the garden party held at the home of Mrs. England, in the interests of the National Political Party, and for the purpose of enabling Air. E. B. Gordon, the party’s candidate for the Rangitikei electorate, to meet electors. The large attendance reflected the widespread intrests in the party’s Campaign, and the gathering was in every way an outstanding success. Mr. H. D. Richardson formally welcomed the guests and introduced Hon. J. G. Cobbe, member for Oroua. and Mr. Gordon.

In the course of his remarks Mr. Cobbe referred to the fact that the district w r ould shortly become part of the Rangitikei electorate, and he would b( sorry to lose tho connection he had so long held with the area which formed a substantial part of the Oroua electorate. Air. Gordon, the party’s cand date for tho Rangitikei seat, was : young and energetic man who shoulc make a first-class member. Beacons field, he said, had always treated him particularly well at the general election and on the last occasion, with a triangular contest, he had polled 66 votes, Labour 8 and the Democratic candidate 7 votes. He hoped that electors would make an effort to give Air. Gordon a unanimous vote at the next election. Air. Gordon was a practical farmer possessed of a sound knowledge of the farming industry and in'every way better equipped than some of those bureau people who had been gathered together in Wellington to tell farmers how to farm. lie was a member of a very ole Alarton family, and In the opinion c Mr. Cobbe would make an ideal rejorcsentative. The next election, coutinu Air. Cobbe, would be probably the most important in tho history of New Zealand, and the really vital question for electors to decide would be whether they wished to retain their freedom or whether they desired State control of their destinies. If electors did not support the National Party candidates then they would most certainly come understate control. There was no doubt that there was a growing sense of insecurity among electors. Those who had worked hard and got together homo and property were beginning to question themselves, in the light of recent legislation, whether their interests were secure, and he urged the gathering to take stex>s at the next election to make absolutely sure of their position. Continuing, Air. Cobbe went on to say that at the present time the dec tors of the Beaconsfield district were represented by a gentleman of the Labour Government who advocated the socialisation of industry. This was not all for there was tho threat of superseding privato enterprise. “Some of you have inherited homes and farms, others have worked to buy farms and homes, and I say that they rightly belong to you and that no State has the right to take them from you,’’ declared Mr. Cobbe. Freedom or State control would be the vital issue, lie reiterated, and electors must organise if they wished to preserve their interests. Air. Cobbe believed that the womenfolk of the country would play a very important part in the next election, and he stressed the great value of their organisation in tho forthcoming fight for the retention of personal freedom as against State control. If Labour was returned again tho country would be faced with much far-reaching legislation for their return to jjower would be accepted as a mandato from tho people to proceed with their socialistic programme. Concluding, Mr. Cobbe thanked the electors for their support in the past and expressed the hope that they would see to the return of Air. Gordon (applause). Air. Gordon stated that ho was very pleased to be present, and wished to thank Air. Richardson and his committee for organising tho party. He went on to refer to the extent of the elector ate which he hoped to represent, and stated that it was going to be a big job to get round but he hoped with the help of supporters of tho party to win the seat. It was not, however, a one-man job. It rested largely with the electors and supporters of the party whether he was to be successful. He recognised that there were strong forces against him and the National Party interest would require to organise and work hard if he was to win the seat. Air. Gordon went on to say that it was a very fine thing to see the great interest the women were taking in the election and ho welcomed the women’s branches that had been formed at different points throughout the electorate. Steps were also being taken to form a junior organisation, and if he could be of any help in this direction in the Beaconsfield district he would be happy to assist. He did not intend to make a political speech but would say that the next election would be the most momentous in the history of tho Dominion, and the circumstances called for the strongest possible fighting organisation to secure a victory of the National Party interests. There would be little left worth fighting for thereafter if the National Party was not successful, he said (applause). On the motion of Mr. Cobbe, the large gathering carried by acclamation a hear.ty vote of thanks to Mrs. England for giving the party.