PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 10

PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT

Called Political Rip Van Winkle CRITICISM BY NATIONAL PARTY LEADER "They seem to have found the policy for which we have been' lighting for years in tlie face of heavy odds," said tlie Leader of the National Party. Mr. Adam Hamilton, commenting yesterday on tlie People’s Movement, which' held a meeting in the Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday night. "Certainly the serious points they mention are fundamentally identical witli those issued in our manifestos in the last five years. "It is like the awakening of a political Rip Van Winkle who suddenly finds that which everyone else has known for years. Tlie same energy backing the fundamental principles they now' espouse might have assisted those of ns who have been for years in tlie light they now so naively discover.

"But they are not entirely up to date. It is appropriate to mention that we are in tlie midst of a war—a life and deatli struggle. Questions of war organization and war finance completely overshadow and ante-date any. interest there might be in this interesting phenomenon of the political awakening of some who are now hit hard enough to wake, and are awakened so abruptly that they lose their sense of proportion. “People are not in the mood for domestic politics or self-seeking other than as it affects the war effort —and very rightly so —if they really appreciate the gravity of tlie crisis with which Great Britain and her Allies are faced.”

CRITICISM OF THE NATIONAL PARTY

Reply By Official

CHARGE OF INACTIVITY

CALLED UNJUST

References to the National Party at the meeting of the People’s Movement in Wellington on Tuesday night wore commented on by the Dominion vicepresident of the National Party, Mr. Cheviot Bell, in an interview yesterday. Mr. Bell said he iiad been present at the meeting of the People’s Movement, and after listening attentively to the speakers be could distinguish no difference between the objects put forward and those of the National Party. He had not gathered from I he speeches any real need for the inauguration of the movement.

The National Parly, Unlike the recent developments seen in the Labour Party, particularly in Auckland and Napier, had never stood as a more united body than it did today, Mr. Bell said. Its whole foundation rested on a democratic organization in every sense of tlie word. Tlie basis of its constitution was that Hie man in the street, represented by the half-crown member, had. through tlie appropriate channels, a full say in the party’s-or-ganization and policy. Such defects as-might at one time have existed had been removed by amendments in the constitution to conform with tlie views which had been expressed at conferences by its members. The foundation of its success lav in the democratic election by members of the party through their delegates of all its officers from the president of the party downward. As an example, at the Wellington divisions conference last week, three candidates stood for tlie chairmanship in amicable contest, and the two who were unsuccessful at once announced that Hie chosen chairman would have their whole-hearted support.

It seemed a popular attitude for new parties to adopt to accuse the National Partv of inactivity at the present time, said Mr. Bell. That criticism was both unjust and incorrect. Tlie National Party was building and gaining in strength internally from day to day. Tlie reason for whatever apparent inactivity on its part might be thought to exist was to be found in Mr. Hamilton’s recent pronouncement at Palmerston North. He had expressed t lie united point of view of the party that todav country and Empire came first, and 'the National Party's duty was in (>very case where Hie principles for which it stood were not being infringed, to got in behind Hie Government ami ensure Hint New Zealand lived up to its reputation us a child of the Mother Country, and that ail sections strained their utmost to help the Empire today.