NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1943, Page 3

NATIONAL PARTY

CHARGES BY INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE. MR ALEX GORDON’S REPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In the course of a reply to what he described as “a bitter and highly personal attack on the National Party” made, in a broadcast address, by Mr Clive Drummond, Independent Group candidate, the president of the National Party, Mr Alex Gordon, said in part: “Mr Drummond’s'charge that the National Party organisation dictates the policy and actions of members of Parliament is a ridiculous absurdity, and in fairness to the thousands of National Party members throughout the country I cannot allow it to pass unchallenged. Mr Drummond was apparently quoting from an old rule book which has long been superseded but even so his interpretations are absolutely inaccurate. Our policy committee consists of three representatives of the members of Parliament and three representatives of the organisation, presided over by the leader, who has the casting vote. This committee has authority to draft and finalise the policy, but no policy suggestions submitted by the organisation are incorporated in the policy until they have been examined and approved by the .Parliamentary party.” Regarding an allegation by Mr Drummond that Mr Holland’s meeting at Christchurch was “packed” by means of tickets, Mr Gordon said: “Every meeting addressed by Mr Holland is a public meeting, publicly advertised, and no tickets have been issued.”