NATIONAL PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 12

NATIONAL PARTY

THE LEADER'S TOUR GOOD RESULTS IN NORTH PEOPLE'S WIDE INTEREST MORE SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN Complete satisfaction ' with the results of his visit to the North Auckland electoral districts was expressed yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, on his return to Auckland. One of the most impelling impressions he obtained'from his tour, he said, was the more serious and longer-sighted view of politics being taken by the farmers, and the amazing amount of interest being taken by everybody in the affairs of the Government so soon after the election.

Referring to the statement he made at Whangarei that it was necessary for supporters of the New Zealand National Party to choose 59 candidates before the end of the year, Mr. Hamilton said there was no special significance to be attached to this, except that these were the 59 seats which the party did not i.oid. Getting Candidates Ready

"It is our duty vo get candidates ready for these seats if we are to win them," said Mr. Hamilton. "The selection of the candidates before the end of the year is necessary mainly in order to give the selected candidates perhaps 12 months to establish themselves before the election takes place. It is hardly fair to candidates to ask them on the eve of an election to contest seats. They ought to know in plenty of time, 12 months before if possible.

Politically Minded "I found during my visit to the North that the electors are certainly becoming politically minded again. In fact, they are becoming politically minded much earlier after an election than is usual.' This was shown by the attendances Ave had at our meetings, which were of an extremely gratifying nature. It is many years sine© such political interest was in evidence before the sitting Government's term was half over. It would also appear that the farmers are taking a more serious view of politics—perhaps a longer view —than in the past." Straight-out Contest

Mr. Hamilton emphasised the neces' sitv for young people to interest themselves in political affairs. They had the* future of their country in their hands, and he had found from his tour that evidence was not wanting that the younger generation was beginning to realise their public responsibilities in a large measure. At the next election the appeal to tho country would be a straight-out contest, and it would more effectively test and more correctly register whether New Zealand wanted to be governed by Labour.

THE CALL FOR ACTION RECEPTION TO MR. HAMILTON NECESSITY FOR LOYALTY " The responsible people who should govern the country are in our ranks and we must see that we do it," said the leader of the New Zealand National Party, the Hon., A. Hamilton, at a reception given to him last night by the Junior League of the Auckland division of the party in Milne and Choyee's Reception Halt Mr. Hamilton, who received an enthv;siastic welcome from the large gathering, emphasised the necessity for immediate action by all supporters of the party and for men who might bo candidates to prepare and qualify themselves for the task that might be theirs. " This country is governed by the people," said Mr. Hamilton, " and we all have got to see that we play our part. The Labour Party have realised that from their fights in the past and they have set out to gain a hold over the people. They know they can do it bv organisation and discipline among their ranks, and that in this way the> can get a hold over the country. We have to do the same, and we have never had in the past such an occasion where people are taking public life more seriously. We've got a better case than they have. The class that ought to govern the country does not come from Labour. The responsible people who should govern the country are in our ranks." '• Circumstances arose at the last election that won't arise again," said Mr. Hamilton, after remarking that the people did not want a Labour Government when they voted against the old Government, which was distinct from his narty. " This is not a Labour country. We aro individualists. We want to develop bur life in our own way. We have to see that the setting is rigbt the next time so that the expression of the country's real wants is correctly registered." > Mr. Hamilton spoke of tho necessity there was for loyalty, which was, he said, the greatest quality of man. Supporters of the party had to lenrn lovalty to the party, to their candidates, their leader and to their different executive committees. They had to bind together in the National Party organisation the business and the professional people of the cities with the people of the country. The lesson of tolerance had also to be learned. Tt was wise to be willing to see the other man's point of view*.

If tho interests of the people of the cities nnd the country could be bound together in the policy that they themselves would writo, then the National Party would get in. By united effort they would get the victory. Mr. Hamilton emphasised that under the party's organisation much power had been placed in tho hands of the party's supporters. The candidates and the Parliamentary members had not much say in the running of the policy, and tho party wanted tho help of all its supporters in formulating this policy.

Mr. Hamilton was introduced by the president of the Junior League, Mr. 0. George, who outlined Mr. Hamilton's qualities as a leader nnd also paid a tribute to the enduring loyalty to the National cause that had alwavs been given by Sir George and Lady Wilson. At the conclusion of Mr. Hamilton's address Mr. W. J. Quigley moved that the gathering express its entire agreement with what Mr. Hamilton had said and assure him of their entire support and confidence. This was carried unanimously.