FIRING THE FIRST-SHOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1928, Page 10

FIRING THE FIRST-SHOT.

JIEW POLITICAL PARTY. " CAMPAIGIf LAUNCHED IJ!J "'^iAUCKIiAND.' ';, .. ■ DOMES T IO2T->VIDE MOVEMENT, if "1 don't remember wiieh there was sucli a universal desire throughput Newl for a change of Government ,1 euch'a's exists at the present time. i]

Thus said tlio leader, of the party (Mr. G. W. Forbes) this morning iii explaining his attitude in respect to wholeheartedly supporting tlio .move-'] ment that is in progress to form a United Political.party. Associated with Mr. 15. Ransom (Rational M.P. of Paliiiitua) Mr. Forbes will address electors in' the I Auckland Town Hall-tliis evening 011 thoneed of a radical change of government. . - He",said that ;ho was in Auckland to'. fire the first shot in the campaign that was being conducted throughout the" Dominion for the purpose of getting together a strong party that he felfc would represent vtlio majority of the people of the country. There was strong dissatisfaction about the present Govenunant."Many people "who have pinned their faith to. the Government for years have come to >us saying that tliey have been depending on a broken reed. Wherever one goes there are expressions that the time for a change has arrived."

While a feeling of dissatisfaction existed, it required organisation to form a strong party that would build up the .support of tile public for a programme ihat would bo in tlio intersts .'of theDominion. A responsible alternative • tliat tlic people could turn to -was required and not a policy that would' bo I disastrous in the making of a change, and cause a swinging over to the Socialistic Labour party.

Sir. Forbes said tliat ]ie did not' intend to make a policy speech this evening— the time was not ripe for it. Howevur lie would deal with some of the problems tiiaffaced the country to-day, and would refer to some of the legislative reforms that he thought were required. Also in reviewing the work of the past session, he would mention something of the jnismaiiiCgenieht and bungling of the present^' I He: would lay special stress-:6ii! the,failure of the Goverhnient .to. carry- oiita progressive land settlemeit. scheme, which .was necessary tb" avert- periodical unemployment. "To ihy mind," lie added, "the great solution of the unemployment problem ns-a vigorous prosecution of land settlement. That is what was done.in 1890 by-theiiilicral party, and from then up to the present time we heard little of unemployment. . "We don't want to make this;;a'partyj. however, [ Soy' we' are'willing to assist the' Govermnent"in every way possible to alleviate the | genuine distress'that exists in Ne;>v Zealand to-day." ■ . ; ,; . In Teply to a question, Jlr.'-Torbes ~said he. proposed, to .refer, to-night to ' xlie iiitentidns' of 'the new party in the future... "That is, "what I am: here for," lies, said,.,"for at rtlie present time there IB a' good 'deal of "questioning in : the people's minds as to .what form politifis are going to take. I am here to-night. to -make it clear, what wo ■ are oiit to \(io." . v-V'•:-■'. i'", .'• ■: ■ ■-• \ : ~ : '■■ :•

There appears to lie an Impression tiwt tlio New Zealand Liberal party is coi'i-.nect«Xv\i.'ith.to-n'g'it'R meeting. The local, organisation/states tliat the party has, iiotiiing to do with the meeting.