LABOUR MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1935, Page 6

LABOUR MEETING

STRATFORD BRANCH AFFAIRS. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The Stratford branch of the New Zealand Labour Party held its first annual meeting last night. The president (Mr. W. S. Currie) was in the chair and there was an attendance of about 25, including the official candidate, Mr. P. Skoglund. Since the branch was constituted last June, stated the report, its activities had been centred chiefly on organisation work. The branch was fortunate in having the services of Mr. J. Thome, national secretary, on two occasions. The branch also secured the services of Mr. W. G. Simpson, Hawera, for guidance in the working of the branch, which was deeply indebted to him for a very fine address delivered at Midhirst. Mrs. Siddells, Kaponga, deserved special men-, tion for having come from Kaponga to address the ladies on labour matters at Stratford. Mr. H. T. Armstrong, M.P., addressed a large meeting in the town hall and the thanks of the brunch were due to him. “The committee considers,’’ continued the report, “that the branch has been very fortunate in being able to secure the candidature of Mr. P. Skoglund as the official Labour candidate at the next general election. Mr. Skoglund is well and very favourably known not only within the electorate but throughout the Dominion and his selection was unanimously endorsed by the branches and by the national executive.” The question of the formation of a provincial council for Taranaki required consideration. The organisation work, concluded the report, had eost a fair amount of money and had practically exhausted the funds in hand. The report added appreciative reference to the services rendered during the year by the secretary (Mr. P. C. Brennan) and other officers. The position revealed by the balancesheet, said the chairman, was extremely satisfactory in view of the fact that the branch’s spade-work had been done in the past few months. Preliminary organisation had been expensive. Officers elected were: President, Mr. W. S. Currie; vice-president, Mr. A. E. Marwick; executive, Messrs. D. F. Conway, C. Rogers, A. B. Watson, P. C. Brennan, I. Leonard, C. J. Kerr; treasurer, Mr. A. E. Sparrow. The appointment of a secretary was left to the executive.