HAMILTON SEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20509, 27 May 1938, Page 9

HAMILTON SEAT

MR A. W. GRANT CHOSEN NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING HELD An enthusiastic general meeting of member* of the National Party in the Hamilton electorate, held In the Alexandra Hall laat evening, selected Mr A. W. Grant, of Te Aroha, as the party’® candidate for the Hamilton electorate. Mr Grant secured a clear majority of the total votes cast. The other nominations were those of Messrs R. Cobbe, of Ruaklwl; j R. Fow, of Hamilton, and T. Parker, of Hamilton. “It is not often that I am at a loss for words in public, but I think this is one of the most surprising things in my experience,” said Mr Grant when returning thanks, “and I want to tell you this: that we are going to win the Hamilton seat.” Mr J. M. Allen, Dominion vice-pre-sident of the National Party and candidate for the llauraki seat, presided over the largest audience seen in the Alexandra Hall since guaranteed and compensating prices were debated there. Mr Allen was introduced by Mr A. Gordon, chairman of the South Auckland division of the party. In addition to the chairman, the candidates for selection and Mr Gordon, there were also present on the platform Messrs W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo; O. Mills, chairman of the Auckland division of the party; W. S. Goosman, the Waikato candidate; A. S. Sutherland, Raglan candidate; Stewart Reid, of the South Auckland executive; W. A. Clarke, chairman of the Thames electoral committee; T. Wilkes, divisional organiser for the Auckland district; N. Dey, divisional organiser for the South Auckland district. "Socialistic Menace” Speaking first, Mr Fow said he was In the happy posftfon of being under no obligation to introduce himself. Nor did he need to give an exhibition of public speaking, since the majority present had in the past had ample opportunity of judging him on that score.

It was not persona] ambition that had led him to se#*k political honours, he went on. He had realised the gravity of the present situation, and if he could assist in the smashing of the socialistic menace, then he would be well satisfied. He was opposed “to the hilt” to the present “spend for prosperity” trend of legislation, which discouraged thrift. In two years there would be the centennial, and then the pioneers would be lauded for their thrift, grit and fortitude. Yet the new* gospel was utterly opposed to these three cardinal virtues. The future of New Zealand depended upon Industry, and it was the manifeft duty of every man so to work that such future would be stable; yet the tendency of the present legislation was to “spend for prosperity.” There was a regrettable inclination on the part of many people to Jeer at those who still put aside for the rainy day.. Trend to Mediocrity The tendency of the day, too, was to drag the efficient down to the level of the mediocre, and the inevitable result was chaos. It was necessarv for every man and woman to take a firm stand, and first of all against compulsory unionism, which struck at the essential foundation of British personal liberty. Again, the speaker stressed the importance of fully restoring reciprocal trade with Great Britain. It was base ingratitude on New Zealand's part to expect to send *hips Home loaded to the Plimsoll line, only to return empty because of the Dominion's hostile tarifTs. The operathes of Lancashire and the miners of Cornwall should be assured in a tangible way of New Zealand's desire for economic reciprocity between the Dominion and the Motherland. Both in internal and external policy the present Government had shown Itself unequal to the tasks facing it and was unworthy of the confidence of the nation. But the Government was firmly entrenched and the only thing that would shift them was strong and united effort upon the part of all. “In that way." concluded Mr Fow, “we can lift Maoriland out of the mire.”

Awakened Political Interest It was a pleasure to see a live interest In politics in Hamilton again, said Mr Cobbe, who considered that the strength of the meeting might be taken as an index of the degree of rebellion which all right-thiqjting people felt against the legislation inflicted upon them during the term of the present Government. The speaker pointed to the increasing number of women taking an active interest in politics. Such interest was indicative of tno awakening of the women of the Dominion to the Inherent unsoundness of the Labour Government's economic and financial system. The slovtly-accrued wealth of the country was being dissipated without one thought for the morrow, and already the Government had matincreased the housewife’s domestic difficulties. The latter were but a mild foretaste of what would come If a strong stand were not taken bv all who valued individual freedom and sound administration. He had no time for fanfastic schemes, financial. economic or otherwise. Inflation, for example, was one of tho greatest calamities which could befall the country, but there was nothing more certalnlv ahead than inflation if the Labour * Party were allowed to continue in office. Socialism the Issue He had been born and brought up in a home where Liberalism was regarded almost as a religion, with it* emphasis upon the sanctity of personal freedom, said Mr Grant, in opening. Asa youth he had been more interested l m politics than anything elso, but he had not then entered the field because he could not decide if what separated parties were facts cr opinions. Now, however, he was convinced that Socialism, of which he had always been an uncompromising opponent, was the political issue of the future. The struggle was now not between political parties but between political

systems. The principles which the National Party stood for were eternal, and in essence they represented the right of a person to live his own life in his own way. To-day the National Party was a new party, and represented the first time in the history of New Zealand on which people of all shades of opinion had banded together to present a united front to Socialism. Though he might be a stranger to the majority of his audience, Mr Grant S3id that he was no stranger to poliS tics. The way of the politician was ! hard but the time had arrived when i a man, if he could help and did not, ' was no friend. Whoever were seI looted to represent the party in Ham- | ilton there had to be undeviating loyalty to him, for the cause was more j important than the man. A resolution, moved by Mr H. M. I Hammond, expressing appreciation of j the good work being done for the party in the South Auckland area, and also continued confidence in the party ! and in the Hon. A. Hamilton as leader, was carried unanimously.