NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1939, Page 9

NATIONAL PARTY

MR HAMILTON’S TOUR EFFORTS TO RESTORE SOUND GOVERNMENT. MEETINGS IN WAIRARAPA PLANNED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N„ November 7. In the course of a tour of the North Island the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, addressed a National Party gathering in Palmerston North tonight. The meeing, at which there was an attendance of 600, heard an address dealing with the National Party's part in the organisation of the war effort and with recent political developments, particularly the allegedly socialistic legislation forced through the House of Representatives since the outbreak of the war.

Mr Hamilton was concluding the first section of his tour of the North Island, having visited in the past 10 days. Rotorua, Hamilton. Auckland. Ngaruawahia, Ngatea, Waihi, Te Uuke. Edgecumbe. Whakatane, Raetihi and Taihape. Last night he spoke in Raetihi after first speaking in support of a patriotic effort at a concert organised by the Red Cross Society. Today he attended a luncheon meeting of the National Party in Taihape, and came on to Palmerston North in the afternoon. After the meeting tonight Mr Hamilton heard a deputation representing the transport industry, and then continued on to Wellington where he will attend the opening of the Centennial Exhibition tomorrow afternoon. A caucus of Opposition members of the House will be held in Wellington on Thursday, and on Friday Mr Hamilton will resume his tour of the North Island, the itinerary including many town and country centres in the Wairarapa. Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay. In his address in Palmerston North Mr Hamilton said that co-operation with the Government in the war effort had been offered by the Opposition and had been gladly accepted by the Government. but that was in no way extended. nor was it expected by the Government itself to extend .to political activities. As far as the National Party was concerned, the effort to restore sound Government in New Zealand would be intensified. There was a growing demand every day for this type of effort, and this tour of the North Island to date had revealed vividly that the change in public opinion from every walk of life was remarkable in its insistence .that a check must be given to the Labour Government’s socialisation of the country on a permanent basis under the cloak of war. State Socialism was being introduced by stealth. “We are as united in our determination to fight dictatorship overseas as we are to resist The seeming counter-

part of it in our own country." Mr Hamilton said. “The people are awake to the danger abroad, and the National Party is putting every ounce of its strength into the war effort; the people are equally awake to dangers at home."