THE POLITICAL REVOLT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 4

THE POLITICAL REVOLT.

CONSTITUTION OF NEW PARTY i THE "TRUCE" TOTTERING. (From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 12. At last something like an authoritaItive statement concerning the compoSition and purpose of the new political I party which has been the subject of so j much speculation and discussion during the last few months is available. Cer-1 tain members of Parliament associated •with the movement have explained in self-defence their attitude towards the two old parties and their leaders. It hae teen an open secret for some time past that at the Reform caucus held on the eve of Mr. Massey's departure for London there was some plain speaking by several members of the rank and file of the party who thought they were being placed at a disadvantage in the eyes of their constituents by the opera- | tion of the party truce and by the in- ! definite postponements of a number of vital questions upon which the conflicting elements in the National Cabinet could not a^ree. RESTLESS MEMBERS. Mr. Mnssey's retort to this, it is now* stated, was that while he Mt bound Iby the conditions of the truce himself ! till it was formally renounced, he had !no wish to prejudice the interests of his supporters, and if they thought lit to propound their own personal views from the platform or in any other way they pleased they were at liberty to do f*o. It would have to be understood, however, that they were speaking without the authority of their Leader and that what they might cay would in no way commit the party. The Liberal caucus held about the same time was rather more harmonious, but three or four members complained .of the disablities placed upon them by the truce, and expressed a I wish to be relieved from them lat the earliest possible moment. Sir I Joseph Ward replied in much the same terms as those employed by the Prime Minister, and both leaders were fully conscious of the feeling of unrest at the time of their departure. ORGANISATION. Though none of the dissatisfied members took the platform to proclaim their grievances to the world at large they soon discovered they had in the country a large number of sympathisers ready to encourage them in their revolt against the National Government. The outcome was several informal meeting- between the disgruntled politicians and more or less prominent commercial and professional gentlemen interested in the puiblic affaire of the Dominion, and finally a conference at which the propriety of forming a new political party wae seriously discussed. So far the movement has come purely from the Reform side of politics, and while not being hostile to Mr. Massey personally, is largely impelled by a des : re to associate the party with a more progressive policy and more business-like and effective administration. For the moment it is held in suspense pendinsr receipt of information concerhirtg'-'.th'tf'TPfim'e 1 Minister's own Intention*. "' THE LIBERAL PARTY. Though no Liberal member of the House of is taking an active part in the formation of the new party—if it has got to the length of forming a party—it would be very wide of the mark to say the Liberal members as a whole are satisfied with the present position. Many of them are gravely dissatisfied, and .without any inspiring pronouncement from their leader they are held together rather by fear of the opposing camp than by attachment to their awn. They arc taking it for granted, however, that on the formal conclusion of peace, whether the party leaders have returned or not, they will be freed from the shackles of the truce and at liberty to prepare for the general election they all expect long before the end of the year.

BUSINESS MEN. CONFER.

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A conference of a number of leading business and professional men to consider possible political action opened here to-day. Nothing is yet available for publication.