WORKING FOR FUSION

MR, JENKINS AS INDEPENDENT

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Labour was more in power under the present condition of affairs than it could ever be as a miuority Government, declared Mr. H. E. Jenkins, M.P., who addressed a crowded meeting at Bcinuera last night to explain his action in leaving the United Party.

Mr. Jenkins said that he had. not climbed into Parliament on the backs of the United Party. He had regretted ever since that he had helped to

put Reform out. He quoted a number of clauses from the United Party's policy and declared that they either had been contravened or not carried into effect. These included revision of income tax and Customs taxation, and financial policy in general. The Government had failed to reorganise the Public Works Department as had been intended. The railway policy had been violated. The United Party, declared Mr. Jenkins, had supported Labour legislation last session, this being the price of minority Government.

Mr. Jenkins said that he intended to sit as an Independent until a two-party system was evolved. The United Party was prepared to hold office at any price. He believed Mr. Coates was the ablest man in Parliament, apart from Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Coates knew his job. If he thought tho people of tho country would, support Mr. Coates, Mr. Jenkins said, he would support him too, but he did not think the country would do so. He would support Mr. Coates to bring into force a two-party system. A member of the audience asked Mr. Jenkins whether, as a man of independent means, ho would not be willing to resign and contest his seat again and pay the costs of a by-election. Mr. Jenkins said that if the meeting showed by a majority show of hands that he should resign and ontest the seat again ho would do so. This caused some confusion, and Mr. Jenkins then said that only Parnoll electors should vote.

The chairman, Mr. H. P. Richmond, said that he could not distinguish Parnell voters from others, and the matter was allowed to drop.