NATIONAL LEADER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 11

NATIONAL LEADER

No Glittering Promises, But Fearless Honesty MR. DOIDGE'S TRIBUTE Warm tributes to the personal qualities of the leader of the National Partyt the Hon. Adam Hamilton, were expressed by Mr P. W. Doidge in speaking at a meeting held under the auspices of the party in the Manukau electorate. "At last election an organised minority triumphed over an unorganised majority, ' ' gaid Mr Doidge. There could be no eonfusion at thj next general election; the fight would be a straightout issue between those who wanted fcjocialism and those who did not. "In the past 20 years," said Mr Doidge, "I have had the good fortune to know, more or less intimately, many of the great men of our time. In recent months I have been closely associated with Adam Hamilton, i have never met a man quite like him. His thoroughness goes so deep that it is often disconeerting, even exasperating. His honesty is ingrained. At the conference table, planning party policy, to every suggestion he applies the sama acid test: 'Is that a promise we can perform?' "Mr Hamilton is as well aware as any other man of the inexhaustible gullibility of the average elector. But he will never be a party to its exploitation. The poliey Mr Hamilton produces will contain no spectacular array of glittering promises. Whatever that polifcy may be, rest assured it will be, like the man himself, scrupulously and starkly honest. Mr Hamilton is of the fearless, upright type to whom the people will instinctively turn when they seek escape from the treacherous quicksands of Socialism. "Cartoonists delight in caricaturing Mr Hamilton as a dour fellow," continued Mr Doidge. "Tney are wroug. H6 is the kindliest "man, with flie friendliest smile. There is within his nature a rich humanity. He believes that the aim of all lionest political endeavour should be the raising of the standard of life. Adam Hamilton^ iu power, will carry social legislation to the f ullest limits compatible with national ilnances. He will make a New Zealand Prime Minister of the Stanley BalSwin type. "The National Party has gathered into its ranks all those who loet their political bearings at the last ejection. Tbe old political factions are as doad as the Wars of the • Roses. The new National Party consolidates witlfin . its ranks all the anti-Soeialist forces. Before tbe end of next year Mr Hamilton will be Prime Minister of New Zealand. ' 1