NATIONAL PARTY CONFIDENT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 8

NATIONAL PARTY CONFIDENT

Enthusiasm Shown In Wellington

"TIDE AT THE

FLOOD"

Election Success

Predicted

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, September 16.

The rooms of the National Club were crowded this evening when National Party candidates for Parliament were guests of honour at a reception. A speech by the Leader of tha Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) was greeted with a remarkable display of enthusiasm, which was repeated when other National members of Parliament, candidates, and party officials were heard. The president of the National Club (Mr Guy Johnston), in welcoming the guests, said the party and the country as a whole were under a debt of gratitude to them for the services they had rendered. They wished to tell Mr Hamilton and those who would be associated with him in the coming election that they were facing the contest with high hopes and a fi*ed determination to. spare no effort to gain a sweeping victory against the forces of SocialThe president of the party (Mr C. H Weston) also welcomed the guests. He said that- a month ago the general impression abroad was that tne National Party was in the trough of the wave and that the tide was at the ebb: but now the tide was at the flood. That was largely due to the masterly w»y in which the Parliamentary party had handled the Opposition case in Parliament. They were moving to their electorates in the shadow of a great crisis, one which involved the necessity of great sacrifices. He knew the' people* would welcome the coming to power of a sane Government, The country would have no confidence in the present Government, but would demand one it could trust. "The sight of such a crowd as-, sembled to wish us well in the campaign reminds us of the gathering of the clans," said Mr Hamilton- H. it were not tor the knowledge that the people outside were behind us f>nd that we' Wire representing the body ui organised responsible public opinion in this country, we should not be able to keep going. We have just rung down the curtain on the talking shop, and we very nearly sang -'Bonnie Charlie's Now Awa\" "Going to Win"

"War clouds over Europe are ominMr Hamilton said. ,I'The dangeF SigftaJa are out. I>et me.ipay a tribute Ho T our British Prime Minister for 'playing' his part. Although we deplore the-thought of war and >he necessity for armaments, when -we have fbrce behind us our counsel is to some effect." -.--; Referring to the passage of the social security legislation, Mr Hamilton said the bill was a most awkward one to handle from an Opposition point of view. "We thought we would steer our CQuree in a manner which WQUIa prevent the Government • getting us ■offside," he said. "Tlk; amendments we moved in the course of that bill are mighty handy for our candidates who are going but to fight the election, and that was supposed to be their trump card. Ido not know whether it has turned out that way." , - ■* „. Mr Ham Mon paid a tribute-to the outside organisation Q* the party, asserting' that its fighting forces were stronger than they had ever fore, "We are gqmg to win all right, he aeclaredi amid, cheers. "I want to express our appreciation of the help given to.us in the selection of con. didates. We have a wonderful band to augment our forces in the campaign. We are delighted with them, Many of them have university de, grees. ~ They are of a vigorous type, keen to put a case forcefully before their hearers." „ . ,» ■ Prolonged applause followed Mr Hamilton's dosing sentence: "In about four weeks' time we will hold a victory ball."