National Party Meeting Well Attended

Chronicle (Levin), 29 March 1949, Page 2

National Party Meeting Well Attended

The most successful annual meeting yet held by the Otaki branch of the National Party took place at the Anglican Hall on Tnursday Jast, when the attendance numbered over 100. Mr. J. D. Avery occupied the chair and welcomed, among others, Mr. W. Day (organiser) and Mr. J. J. Maher, jthe mefnber for the district: j The singing of the national • Anthem opened the meeting, after !which a motion of condolence with Mr. N. D.- Anderson in the sad loss he hau suffered in the passing of his wife was moved,. i The annual report and financial statement were adopted, after ,'which Mr. Maher took the chair while nominations for chairman for the ensuing "year were taken. Mr. J. D. Avery was re-elected chairman 'and the decision to appoint a lady deputy chairman saw Mrs. H. F. Tews elected. Mr. jN. D. Anderson was re-elected secretary and treasurer and com'mittees were set up as follows: — Branch committee: Messrs. F: H. Monk, A. W. Empson, H. Tews, H. R. Hickhng, W. H. Townrow, A. W. Buxton, W. Jepson, E. Diack, H. Turner, H. Jackson, Ian Tay'or, P. Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. G. Sutherland, Mr. and Mrs. J. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. King, Mr. and Mrs. M. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. S. Elliott and Miss J. Booth, with Mr. R. Taylor and Miss M. Wallington delegates from the junicr branch; electorate committee: Messrs. Avery, Anderson, I. Taylor, Turner, Monk, Holmes, Townrow, Hickling, Empson, Suthe^and, Buxton, J. Stewart, P. Elliott, King, Mrs. S. E'liott, Mr. and Mrs. H. Tews. Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Stewart. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Day reviewed the activities of the party over the past year and dwelt on the prospects for the coming year. He paid a tribute to the work done by the junior branch, jkhanking il for arranging numerous successful functions. He also made mention of tne success of the women's conference held during the .year and the target the branch would be aiming at by way of membership,.* Mr. Maher prefaced his remar^s by offering an apology f oi'.. the absence of Mrs. Maner, occasioned through illness. in her family. He reported that several promineht party speakers jjwou'd be visiting Otaki and diktr^^during tion. campaigri. 'Mr. Maher also touched on the party's views regarding capital punishment, tne superannuation of members, rehabilitation and the difficulty the Govemment was having in securing suitable land. He pointed out that whereas in 1935 there were 50,000 public servants, there were $8,000 today. Tiie speaker concluded by asSerting that this would bd the most crucial year in the history of New Zealand. Votes of . thanks, carried by acclamation, were accorded Messrs. Day and Maher, fol'owing which musical items by Miss D. Avery and Mr. W. H. Townrow, with Mrs. H. Tews as accompanist, added to the success of the evening. The serving of supper to all concluded a most enthusiastic' meeting.