WARM WELCOMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19372, 9 July 1937, Page 13

WARM WELCOMES

MR. HAMILTONS' TOUR VISIT TO EAST COAST THREE GOOD MEETINGS The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, was warmly welcomed to the East Coast yesterday, good attendances being recorded at all three of the meetings held, and the National Party leader being assured of strong support from a substantial section of the settlers. At Tolaga Bay the attendance totalled 80 residents of the Uawa County, and Mr. J. McNeil, chairman of the County Council, presided. Mr. Hamilton's address was on lines similar to those of his Gisborne speech on Tuesday evening, and was heard with keen attention. At its conclusion, he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of the chairman, Mr. McNeil.

Called for mid-afternoon, the Tokomaru Bay meeting was also well attended, and was presided over by Mr. A. N. Wilkins, who moved a vote of thanks at the conclusion of Mr. Hamilton's address.

Over 100 Waiapu Valley settlers and residents of the township gathered at Ruatoria to' hear Mr. Hamilton last evening, the meeting being a most enthusiastic one, and the points made by the National Party leader drawing frequent applause from the audience. Mr. I. g. C. Dalgairns presided. Mr. Hamilton emphasised the fact that his tour was more in the nature of an organising effort than a speaking tour- directed against the present Government.

He also stressed the need for all non-Labour interests to make common cause against Socialism, and assured the gathering, in the terms also used ; at'- Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay, that all the interests which the National Party claimed to represent would be required to use tolerance as the foundation of their organisation. Reconciliation of the viewpoints of different groups, on minor matters, must be effected if a common front was to be opposed to the progress of Socialism and the elimination of individual enterprise. Mr. W. W. Ludbrook moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Hamilton at the conclusion of his address.

To-day the National Party leader, accompanied by Mr. T. G. Wilkes, party organiser, returned to Gisborne from the Coast, and after lunching in town, left in the afternoon for Wairoa.