LABOUR PARTY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 February 1933, Page 6

LABOUR PARTY

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING REVIVES DISTRICT BRANCH. - GOVT. POLICY ATTACKED. That the present Government has succeeded in creatipg a keen interest in national politics was clear ly evidenced hy the large number who attended a meeting called for the purI pose of reforming the Whakatane Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. The convenors' judgment in fixing on the Borough Council Chamber as a meeting place was early proved to have been at fault. Though the meeting was timed to start at 8 p.m. it was fully half an hour later before the audience were settled. In opening the meeting, Mr. A. F. Moncur stated that a small meeting was held on Tuesday night, when it was decided that it would be. adviseable to form a branch of the party at Whakatane. The present meeting had therefore been called. During the course of his remarks, Mr. Moncur stated that the first local branch was formed in 1923, with a membership of six. By 1928 this had increased to 160. The re-arrange-ment of the electoral boundaries in that year had resulted in the breaking up of the branch, though their community of interest was still the samo as ever. Mr. Moncur briefly traced the boundaries fixed and drew attention to the very great anomalies. He instanced the separation of ijhe Whakatane Township from the Rangitaiki Plains and Taneatua, and in lieu thereof, linking it up with the outskirts of Gisborne a town with which they had few if any interests ' in comraon. Again the Rangitaiki Plains was linked up with Te Aroha and its surrounding district, whilst Rotorua extended nearly into Whakatane and away down to Matamata. The general effect of all this was that the Bay of Plenty area proper was split xip between three electorates, wliereas their community of interest would be best served by one electorate say Opotiki to Tauranga and inlancl to Rotorua.0 Government Criticised. Mr. Moncur also stated that the present condition of the country has been brought about largely through the actions of tlie present Government and that bearing that in mind, the present seemed an opportune time to form a branch of the Labour Party with the object of assisting that party to secure control of the Treasury Benches and thus aid in righting some of the many present wrongs. The meeting having resolved that it was advisable to form a branch and many having indicated that they were prepared to become members, the meeting proceeded to elect offieers. The following were elected: — President: Mr. A. F. Moncur; VicePresidents : Messrs. A. Nowland, S. Brown, T. R. Brown and C. II. Christensen; Secretary: Mr. J. Fleetwood; Treasurer: Mr. W. Mylett; Executive : president, viee-president, secretary, treasurer and Messrs. G. A. Moore, T. MeKenzie, R. Coulter, W. Hooper, C. Gee, G. Furze, F. Orchard and M. Penny. It was also resolved that early sieps be taken to form a ladies committee and also a social committee. It was subsequently decided that the branch's funds be lodged in the Post Savings Bank in the names of the secretary and treasurer as trustees. Borough Elections. Some discussion followed a suggestion that the branch should nomiiiate members for the forthcoming Borough Council Elections. The' sugj'estion was keenly supported by several speakers and the matter referred o the executive for consideration. A general discussion following the advertised business of the meeting was productive of numerous suggesLions for improving the lot of noncapitalists. At thei conclusion of the meeting, the newly appointed treasurer spent a busy half hour collecting subscriptions from new members.