TACTICS FOR THE OPPOSITION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21727, 9 March 1936, Page 10

TACTICS FOR THE OPPOSITION

'■‘••’A Supporters* Opinkms Differ

VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN

OR LENIENCY?

[THE PRESS Special Senirr 1

WELLINGTON, March 5

A conference of the National Political Federation, with delegates from all parts of New 1 Zealand, will be held in Wellington shortly after the opening of the parliamentary session. It is expected that one of the main questions for discussion will be future organisation with a view to establishing an alert oppesztion outside as well as within Parliament.

“It is recognised by members and many of the supporters of the National Party,” says a member of the federation, “that the Opposition in the House of Representatives i? numerically weak, and also that it is anything but strong in effective debaters. There is a difference of opinion about the tactics to be employed against the Labour Government, which not only has an overwhelming majority in the House, but possesses several good speakers in the comparatively large Ministry of 12 on the Treasury benches and also among the co-opted rank and file of the party. “Several representatives of the National Political Federation contend that the best tactics during the session would be to let Labour use as much political rope as it likes on the old theory that it will take enough in time to hang itself. Others, however, hold that in view of the important and prospectively drastic changes to be made in the financial and economic affairs of New Zealand, the Opposition, from the cutset of the parliamentary business, should maintain a vigorous campaign without being obstnictional. There ought to be untiring constructive criticism in the House, and to obtain this the whole question of party leadership and team work will have to be discussed thoroughly and without any prejudice to individuals. Such, at any rate, are the opinions expressed by members of the National Party and further expression is certain when the conference is held in Wellington in the near future.”

Shortly after the general election the National survivors of the campaign elected the former Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. G. W. Forbes, as leader of the Opposition, with th'e’Rt. Hon. J. G. Cerates as deputyleader. Since thdh, however, it has been reported semi-officially that Mr Coates may not be able to accept the position of deputy-leader, as there is some likelihood of his entering commercial business. No definite announcement as to Mr Coates’s private plans has been made, however, and it is probable that much of the talk about his future in politics has been merely conjecture.