NATIONAL PARTY BALL

Southland Times, Issue 23664, 12 November 1938, Page 11

NATIONAL PARTY BALL

HAPPY FUNCTION AT OTAUTAU MR AND MRS HAMILTON ENTERTAINED Five hundred Wallace electors gave a rousing reception last evening to the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) and Mrs Hamilton at a complimentary ball given in their honour at Otafttau. The gathering, essentially a social function, was held in the Otautau Town Hall, which was appropriately decorated. Accompanying Mr and Mrs Hamilton were Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P. for Waikato, and Mrs Goosman, Mr A. S. Sutherland, the defeated National candidate for Raglan, and Mrs Sutherland, Mr James Hargest, MJ?, for Awarua, and Mrs Hargest, Mr T. L. Macdonald, M.P. for Mataura, and Mrs Macdonald, and Mr F. G. Hall-Jones. Mr G. M. Broughton, a member of the Invercargill branch of the National Party, was also present. The function was organized by the Otautau branch of the National Party. Mr A. A. Liddell, who has been chairman for Mr Hamilton since he entered politics, presided. With Mrs Liddell, he received the guests. _ Short addresses were given by the guests of honour before supper. The chairman introduced the speakers and expressed pleasure at the big attendance. He expressed regret that the hall was not big enough to accommodate the numbers seeking admittance. Mr Liddell said that he had had the pleasure of being chairman for Mr Hamilton since he had entered politics. He had believed that the National Party would be returned to power, but the majority of the people had thought otherwise and it had been necessary to bow to the inevitable. Mr W. J. Wesney, chairman of the Otautau Town Board, extended a welcome to the visitors and congratulated Mr Hamilton upon his success in being returned for Wallace. The speaker introduced the guests of the evening, mentioning that Mr Goosman was a nephew of Mr William Massey He expressed pleasure at the big attendance, which was representative of the Wallace electorate. CEMENTING FRIENDSHIPS Mr Hamilton said that he. appreciated very much the spirit which prompted a meeting of the type of that that evening. It was a social gathering which would help cement the friendships formed during the election campaign. With Mrs Hamilton, he felt the honour which had been given him by the gathering that evening. The fight was over, but the National Party had won Wallace—that must not be forgotten—and to hold Wallace was a very creditable feat, considering the change of boundaries. He wished to thank the electors of Wallace for all they had done to help the party. The victory was a good one and one, which, perhaps, had not been anticipated. Democracy was not an easy taskmaster. It was breaking down in other countries, and it was up to New Zealand to see that it was maintained in the Dominion. The Opposition would criticize the Government where it was necessary and would support it where it was desirable. It lay with the electors to see that the country had good government. The National Party had made gains and was not downhearted. It was a fight of which the Nationalists need not be ashamed, and the party now had a rating strength of 26, against 21 in the last Parliament. The National Party had registered 100,000 votes more at the last election than it had at the previous election and that was a substantial gain. He thanked the electors most sincerely for their support and for the social evening they had given him and Mrs Hamilton. . . Mr Goosman thanked the gathering

for the invitation to be present that evening and assured the electors that he would give Mr Hamilton his best support. It was the seriousness of the situation which had led him to enter politics, and, although he was a newcomer to politics, he would do his very best in the interests of the country. Mr Sutherland said that he had been brought up in the Western district and it was a pleasure for him to come back to Otautau. He also discussed amusing incidents of the election campaign. Mr Macdonald said it was wonderfully encouraging to see the. regard in which Mr and Mrs Hamilton were held. He was a novice in politics, but he was proud to be under the banner of Mr Hamilton.

Mr Hall-Jones expressed his pleasure at being present that evening and said that, with the exception of Mr Goosman, he was representative of more National Party supporters than other speakers that evening. Mr Hargest said that he appreciated the fact that so many people held Mr Hamilton in high esteem. The speaker had been privileged to serve under Mr Hamilton in the last Parliament, and by his personality, his charm of manner and the work he had done he had shown that he was the rightful leader. The speakers’ remarks were greeted with applause and for the remainder of the evening the big crowd continued to show its appreciation of the function and the spirit which had prompted its organization. •