National Party Confident of Victory

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 183, 5 August 1938, Page 7

National Party Confident of Victory

ENTHUSIASM AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Cheering greeted tho leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton) when he concluded his address to the annual conference of tho New Zealand National Party in Wellington to-day. He claimed that the National Party, a new party altogether, had built up on the individual efforts of electors from North Capo to the Bluff an organisation of greater strength than had rallied round «ny party in the history of New Zealand politics. Mr. Hamilton predicted victory at the poll for his Party, because, he said, the individual was banded behind the National Party to protect his rights at all costs against regimentation and victimisation under the Socialist Government. The day of camouflage had pass ed aud reasoning people everywhere now* saw under the gloved hand of Labour the mailed list known to dictatorships in totalitarian States. Delegates from every electorate in New Zealand attended the conference, which was under tho chairmanship of Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., of Wellington, president of the New Zealand National Party. The following motion was carried: ‘ 1 That this conference thanks Hon. A. Hamilton for his address and assures him of the loyal and wholehearted support of the entire Party in his office as leader of tho new National Party. It is confident that under his guidance the spirit of co-operation upon which the New Zealand I'Jational Party rests will be maintained with undiminished strength, and is conlident also that tho people of the Dominiou will find in the National Party the surest guidance to security, prosperity, progress and freedom. ’ ’ Mr. Weston was re-elected president of the party for tbe year and the following vice-presidents were elected:— Messrs. L. Alderton, A. Gordon, E. E. Hammond, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and Mr. G. W. Laue. Mr. S. M. Hobbs was elected Dominion treasurer. All of these officers were re-elected except the vice-president for the South Auckland division, Mr. J. M. Allen, wbo retired because he is a candidate for the liauraki seat at the forthcoming election,