LABOUR PARTY MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 25549, 18 December 1944, Page 3

LABOUR PARTY MEETING

NORTH INVERCARGILL BRANCH There was a good attendance of members at the meeting of the North Invercargill branch of the New Zealand Labour Party on Saturday evening. Mr Gavin Amos presided. The Hons. M. Connolly and T. F. Doyle, members of the Legislative Council, and Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., were present, as well as representatives of the Selwyn branch. A discussion took place on a Press report concerning the admission of Southland patients to the Dunedin Hospital. It was finally decided to ask the secretary, Mr M. W. Grantham, to interview the chairman of the Otago Hospital Board, Dr D. G. McMillan, and report back to the branch. It was decided to send an appropriate resolution to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, concerning the proposal of the Government to take over the interests of the Lakes District Acclimatization Society. At this stage of the negotiations it was considered necessary to request the Minister to safeguard the interests of the working class sportsmen of Otago and Southland. After the general business Mr Connolly addressed the members on the need for a Labour daily newspaper in the Dominion and urged all present to subscribe and organize to the utmost. He had, Mr Connolly said, been appointed organizer for the paper, covering the area from Oamaru to Bluff and would shortly be touring Otago and Southland, accompanied by Mr J. Roberts and Mr P. Dowse. At the conclusion of the address the North Invercargill branch decided to start the Southland campaign with a further £25 in shares (the branch already having invested £5O). This was followed by the Selwyn branch promising £26, subject to the approval of the members at the next meeting. Addresses were given by Mr Doyle and Mr Denham.

Items were given by Misses N. Fox and J. The accompanist was Mrs A. Cook.