Early Political Career
Nash had briefly been involved with the first Labour Party, established in 1911, but this association had been interrupted by his financial difficulties. In 1918, however, he helped to establish the New Plymouth branch of the modern New Zealand Labour Party and he became highly active. The following year Nash was elected to the party's national executive.
In 1920 Nash and his wife travelled to Europe, attending various socialist conferences. When they returned to New Zealand, in January 1921, Nash was fined for importing "seditious literature". Despite the reputation that this fine gave him, among his fellow socialists, Nash was one of the more moderate members of the Labour Party.
A year after he had returned to Wellington, in 1922, Nash was elected national secretary of the Labour Party. On arrival the party was found to have an all up debt of £220. The debt was settles when - together with Nash's own loan - John Glover (manager of Maori Lands) lent some £100 interest free.
He is often credited with turning the Labour Party into a fully functioning entity; establishing an efficient organisational structure and paying off the party's debts. Following his announcement of "FIFTY THOUSAND SHILLINGS AND FIFTY THOUSAND MEMBERS IN THREE MONTHS" in the Maorilands Worker he worked hard to increase the party's membership.
Nash stood for election in the Hutt electorate in the 1925 elections and 1928 elections but was not successful until the 1929 by-election. He also contested the Wellington mayoralty. In Parliament Nash became one of Labour's main finance spokesmen.
Read more about this topic: Walter Nash
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