FAITH IN LEADER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19701, 5 August 1938, Page 5

FAITH IN LEADER

NEW NATIONAL PARTY VIEWS OP MR- HAMILTON i 'RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION AT POLES (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Cheering greeted the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, .vhen he concluded his address to the annual conference of the New Zealand National Party in Wellington vesterday. He claimed that the National Party was a new party altogether ind had been built up on the individual efforts of electors, from the North Cape to the Bluff, an organisation of greater strength than had rallied round any party in the history of New Zealand politics. Mr. Hamilton predicted victory at .he 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 a Socialist Government. The day of camouflage had passed and reasoning people everywhere now saw under the gflovied hand of Labour the mailed fist known to dictatorships in totalitarian States. Every Electorate Delegates from every electorate in New Zealand attended the conference, which was under the chairmanship of Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C.. of Wellington, the president of the New Zealand National Party. The following motion was carried: "That this conference thanks Mr. Hamilton for his address and assures him of the loyal and whole-hearted support of the entire party in his office as leader of the new National Partv. It is confident that under his guidance the spirit of co-operation upon which the New Zealand National Party rests will be maintained with undiminished strength and is confident also that the people ol the Dominion will find in the National Party the surest guidance to security, prosperity, progress ano freedom." Mr. Weston was re-elected as president of the party for the year. The Hollowing Dominion vice-presidents were elected: 'Messrs. L. Alderton, A. Gordon, E. E. Hammond, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, and Mr. G. W. Lane. Mr. S. M. Hobbs was elected as Dominion treasurer. All these officers were re-elected except the vice-president for the South Auckland division, Mr. J. M. Allen, who 'retired because he is a candidate for the Hauraki seat at the forthcoming election.

WORK OF MRS. STONE CONFIDENCE OF PARTY VOTE BY CONFERENCE {Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The recent attack by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, on Mrs. E. L. Stone during the debate in the House of Representatives was referred to by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton during his address to the annual conference of the New Zealand National Party in Wellington yesterday. Mr. Hamilton stated that Mr. Semple had misconstrued his remarks and in view of the attack made he proposed the following motion, which the conference carried unanimously: "That this conference expresses its keen sense of appreciation to Mrs. Stone for her work for the National Party; further, in view of the unfortunate attack made on her by Mr. Semple it expresses its utmost confidence in both her and her work." Mr. Hamilton said thjat in ]the House, Mr. Semple had launched a very fierce attack on Mrs. Stone. During that statement Mr. Semple had turned to him and asked for comment. He had replied that it was the first he had heard of it, meaning the statements to; whKtfi Mr. Semple was alluding. Mr. Semple had entirely misconstrued his reply in saying that he had said that it was the first he had heard of her, meaning Mrs. Stone. Of course, he knew Mrs. Stone. The Minister had made a very unfair attack. Further Mr. Semple had founded his attack on a statement made in a small journal published at the institution concerned. At no time had he, the speaker, disowned her and he had the greatest admiration for her courage and her work.