NATIONAL PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 53, 31 January 1938, Page 11

NATIONAL PARTY

BIG GARDEN FUNCTION. SIX HUNDRED PRESENT. With the beautiful grounds of Mr and. Mrs R. McKeivie’s residence, ‘‘Pukemarama,” near Itongotea, making a picturesque background, a very successful garden party, attended by over 600 persons, was held on Saturday afternoon by supporters of the National Party in the southern division organisational area of the Manawatu electorate, i Hon. A. Hamilton, Leader of the National Party, and Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P., for Oroua, and official National candidate for the Manawatu electorate, which has absorbed part of his former constituency, were both present and gave vigorous addresses. Mr S: G. Holland, M.P., had intended being at the function, but had to return south. There was a strong representation of party supporters from all parts of the district, and also from Palmerston North. Among those present were Messrs J. A. Nash, J. Linklater, D. Collis (chairman of the Ivairanga County Council), and J. M. Power (Wellington divisional secretary for the party). It was a splendid summer’s day, and refreshing shade was provided by Norfolk pines, Phoenix palms, and plane trees, the function having a sylvan setting in the spacious and beautifully kept grounds of the homestead. The garden party had been most efficiently organised by Mr R. 0. Gloyn, lion, district secretary. Mr D. B. Rowe (acting president), who gave a welcome to the visitors, expressed the gratification felt at such a large attendance, and thanked Mr and Mrs McKelvie for their generosity in making their grounds available for the occasion,- also for their valued assistance in completing arrangements for the function. He eulogised the tireless efforts of the ladies’ committee to make the garden party such a success.

Mr Cobbe voiced his pleasure at, seeing such a large gathering of representative residents of the Manawatu district. He commented that it showed that the country people realised the great necessity ( for looking after their own business and attending to their own affairs. They owed a duty to themselves, to their families and to the country, and their presence there indicated that they were determined to do their share. Mr Cobbe, after an address which, with that given by Mr Hamilton later in the afternoon, is reported elsewhere in this issue, officially declared the garden party open. Mrs D. B. Rowe was president of the ladies’ committee, stalls being in charge of the following:—Produce. Mrs W. Davis; ice-cream. Miss M. Arnott; cakes. Mrs j. T. Gibbons; afternoon tea, Mrs M. Bower. Competitions were controlled bv Mr E. Rowe (croquet), Miss Bailey (clock golf). Mr E. Arnott (nail-driv-ing), and Mr P. Scott (sheep-guess-ing).

Mrs W. Will had charge of the baby show, which was judged by Mrs McKenzie (Bunnythorpe). She made her awards as follow: —Girls 6 months and under: Joan Johnston (Taikorea). Boys 6 months and under: Neil Plimmer (Palmerston North). Boys 12 months: John Robinson (Carnarvon). Results of competitions were: Naildriving, Mr J. Bradley (Sanson); chain-stepping, Mr M. Rowlands (Awahuri); men’s croquet, Mr B. C. J. Rowe (Rongotea)- ladies’ croquet, Mrs F. C. Raikes (Oroua Downs).

Subsequent to Mr Hamilton’s address, Mr E. W. Barnett, of Tokorangi, (president of the Manawatu junior branch of the Nat'onal. Party) emphasised the part which could be played by the youth of the electorate in making the party permanent, and urged them to enter with enthusiasm into the task of forging links to make the British people’s bulwark of democracy against' totalitarianism a solid wall. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs Hamilton and Cobbe for their addresses, and cheers were given for the Leader of the National Party.