NATIONAL PARTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 8, 25 September 1942, Page 5

NATIONAL PARTY

OPOTIKI ANNUAL MEETING

ADDRESS BY MR SULLIVAN, M.P.

The annual meeting of the Opo--1 t.iki Branch of the National Party was held on Saturday night, the •chairman, Mr F. J-. Short, presiding over a fair attendance. In his annual report, the chairman referred to the formation of the War Ad--ministration and stressed that, the National Party could only have stood out from the arrangement at the expense of the country and the war effort. He extended congratulations to Mrs V. E. Wilson on her appointment as North Island Woman Vice-President of the Party. JVIr Short stated that the Member. JYlir W. Sullivan, M.P., is giving •every attention to the needs of the electorate, and lias been round the electorate several times since his election—no small task when one realises the distances he has to traverse. Officers were elected as follows:— Chairman: Mr F. J. Short, (re-elect-ed); Secretary-Treasurer: Mr E. C. East (re-elected); Committee: A large and representative committee was elected, leave of absence being •granted to Messrs H. D. Bennett and ■Clem Black while they are members ■of the Forces; Delegates to Electorate Committee* Chairman, Secretary. - Mrs Wilson, Messrs E. J. Baigent and J. T. Clark.

•Mrs Wilson gave a brief talk on women's interests in politics, and mentioned some of her experiences in addressing meetings in other electorates to which she had been invited. •Mr Sullivan, in an address, touched o-n matters of current interest which had been brought to his no-' tice in a fortnight's tour of the electorate just completed. He had visited as many branches as possible 'where opportunity had been taken to have annual meetings of members. Mr Sullivan then dealt with the formation of the War Administration. He emphasised that the National Party had consistently asked for the formation of an all-Party Government ever since the war started, and that the Leader, Hon. S. G. Holland, had promised that in Ihe event of the National Party being returned to office during the Avar, such a Goyernment would immediately be formed. Mr Holland had had lengthy negotiations with the Prime Minister and ; had 'kept in touch throughout with the Opposition Caucus, but when it came to the final vote, Mr Holland had in-f structed the Opposition members that they must vote not as a Party but according to their individual -opinions. The result was the formation of the War Administration with

six Opposition members holding important fortfolios. The speaker considered that the Press did not give the Administration a fair criticism at the start and did not impress 011 the public that the fundamental idea was to further the country's war effort. AVith the possibility of invasion by Japan, and the defences of the country not so strong at that time as we would have liked, the members of the Opposition had-to decide the best way of offering to help the war effort. They felt that the Administration should be given a fair trial for 12 months —if it Avas successful, it would carry on, but if not successful, there would be a General Election. The Opposition had been instrumental in having this safeguard incorporated in the arrangement. To say that the Party had sold out to Labour was unwarranted and was not calculated to help the war effort.

Mr Sullivan explained the work -which was being done by .the different Ministers of the Administration. He asked the critics to wait awhile and see Avhether the Administration functioned satisfactorily— if it did not, then they could ask for an election, and the Government would have no alternative but to agree. In the meantime, the Labour Party had undertaken not. to bring forward 'further socialistic legislation. If the people of this country could not subordinate their •individual political beliefs at the present time and. get together in an all-out war effort, then there was something sadly wrong with us. Under the threat of attack, we need more Avork, -more production, and a greater effort generally. Mr Sullivan stated that he Avas out to help the Government and will help any Party or Minister that Avill do its (Continued in next column)

best to make an uli-out Avar effort. His policy was to give every assistance lie could to any Minister avlio was getting on with the war. We could iron out our troubles after the Democracies had won the war. Then he would light socialism tooth and nail. Mr Sullivan answered a number of questions, and was accordcd a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive address.