NATIONAL PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 23548, 30 June 1938, Page 11

NATIONAL PARTY

MEETING OF BRANCHES IN MATAURA ELECTORATE There was an attendance of more than 150 delegates at the annual meeting of the National Party’s branchesin the Mataura electorate at Gore. The chairman (Mr R. S. Green) welcomed the delegates and said that the growth of the National organization in the electorate had been very encouraging. The annual report stated that during the last 12 months the expansion of the National organization in the Mataura electorate had been steady, and the growth of the membership satisfactory. An effort had been made to induce electors to show an interest in political matters, and with this end in view visits from outside speakers to different parts of the electorate were arranged. “The organization is indebted to the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) and Mr W. A. Bodkin, who held a joint meeting at Gore, Mr S. G. Holland, in whose company the party’s candidate introduced himself to a Gore audience, Mr K. J. Holyoake, who spoke at Wyndham, and Mr James Hargest, who has given valued assistance at Tapanui, Edendale and Tokanui. Mr T. R. Macdonald was unanimously selected as the party’s candidate in November, and since the Christmas holidays he has held open meetings at the following places: Papatowai, Chaslands, Tapanui, Waipahi, Waikaka Valley, Pukerau, Waitane, Edendale, Tuturau, Mataura and Waimahaka. During the same period the work of forming additional branches was carried on and, accompanied by various members of the committee, the candidate held meetings for that purpose at Glenham, Menzies Ferry, Mokoreta, Mimihau, ' Mataura Island, Waimumu, Morton Mains, Brydone, Gorge Road, Seaward Downs and

Waikoikoi. The branches in existence before the Christmas- holidays were Tapanui, Kelso, Waipahi, Waitane, Tuturau, Edendale, Wyndham, Waimahaka, Tokanui and Papatowai In addition to these district branches there are women’s branches at Tapanui, Gore and Wyndham. . “A Junior National Association has been at Gore since March _ and has j held several social functions with ( the aim of securing the interest of < the younger electors. This is an ( important field and the organization is ■ looking to the Junior Association for f solid achievement.” The report was adopted. i The following officers were elected: > Chairman, Mr R. S. Green; deputychairman, Mr G. Smith (Chartton); committee, Messrs A. G. Whitefield ; (Waikaka Valley), J. Mcßean Stewart (Waitane), S. Rice (Wyndham), C. H. Hargest and R. Hutton (Mataura), H. G. Wallis and T. L. Macdonald (Gore), , J. Dunlop (Seaward Downs), J. D. Edgar (Tapanui) and the secretary, Mr W. D. Shelton (Gore). During the evening the meeting was addressed briefly by the party’s candidate, Mr T. L. Macdonald. Mr L. Colbourne, organizer for Otago and Southland, also spoke.