GORE

Southland Times, Issue 23823, 22 May 1939, Page 4

GORE

NATIONAL PARTY ACTIVITIES

ANNUAL MEETING OF MATAURA BRANCH “All the branches went to work with a will and carried out a most thorough checking of the roll, enrolling new arrivals to the electorate and assisting in having changes of addresses noted, with the result that on polling day every elector was in the position to exercise his or her vote,” stated the annual report of the Mataura electorate branch of the New Zealand National Party, which was adopted at the annual meeting of the branch on Saturday night. “The good work done by all branch committees was very manifest on election day,” stated the report, “when the party’s candidate, Mr T. L. Macdonald, was elected by a very handsome majority. The executive held many meetings during the year and the attendances at these meetings were excellent. The Gore and country branches co-operated with the executive with much enthusiasm.” The good work of all the branches was rewarded with a financial membership of 2028, stated the report. These members not only recorded their own votes in favour of the National cause, but must have induced many others to follow their example. The finances of the electorate were always kept in a healthy state and the balance-sheet showed at the end of the year a credit, with no outstanding accounts to he paid. The thanks of the executive was due to all those who had done the collecting in their respective districts. It was worthy of mention that the executive was never worried at any time because of the lack of funds.

“In Mr T. L. Macdonald,” the report concluded, “the electorate has a most worthy representative, and all members can look forward with pleasurable anticipation to his advent into the political life of the Dominion.” Mr. R. S. Green presided at the meeting and delegates were present from all parts of the electorate. The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) and Mrs Hamilton, and Messrs J. G. Jeffrey, Otago and Southland divisional chairman, A. S. Falconer, divisional secretary, and J. A. Roy, M.P. for Clutha, were also present. Mr Green extended a special welcome to Mr Hamilton and Mrs Hamilton.

The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr R. S. Green, vice-president, Mr G. Smith; executive, Messrs T. L. Morris (Gore), A. G. Whitefield (Waikaka Valley), I. Macbean Stewart (Waitane), S. Rice (Wyndham), C. H. Hargest and R. Hutton (Mataura), J. Dunlop (Seaward Downs) and J. D. Edgar (Tapanui); auditor, Mr H. H. Doughty. GOLF MATCH POSTPONED The Gore Golf Club’s stableford match, which was to have been played on Saturday, was postponed because of heavy rain.