RICCARTON SEAT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24043, 3 September 1943, Page 6

RICCARTON SEAT

MR H. S. S. KYLE’S ADDRESS WITHDRAWAL FROM NATIONAL PARTY “As long as I have got breath and am physically fit I am going to stand for the Riccarton»seat and let the people decide, not a handful of Hereford street gentlemen who said ‘We will bring Kyle to heel because of his attitude to Sid Holland, and because be let him down when he moved his vote of no-confidence.”’ This declaration was made by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Independent candidate for Riccarton, when he explained to Fendalton electors last evening his reasons for leaving the National Party. The candidate was given an attentive hearing by an audience of 18 people in St. Barnabas’ Church Schoolroom, and there was only one interjection by a man who asked for “a little bit of politics.” Three questions were asked, and Mr Kyle received a vote of thanks. Mr Kyle devoted the greater part of his address to. a review of events leading up to the Waikato .miners’ strike, the withdrawal of the National Party representatives from the War Administration, and his declaration of independence. He said that he was being attacked to-day because he had stood up for what was right, and what was in the best, interests of the country when it was in peril War Cabinet Members “Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton joined the War Cabinet with the full sanction of the Opposition, not one of whom opposed the idea,” said Mr Kyle. “They went in and then an agitation against them took place. The agitation was not in the Parliamentary group, but outside in the executive of the National Party. They talk about loyalty! They practically asked for Mr Hamilton’s head and said he could not remain in the War Cabinet and criticise the Government as Leader of the Opposition Who wanted criticism at that time when we had promised the Government 100 per cent, loyalty in carrying out the war effort?” Mr Kyle said that when some of the Parliamentary group of the National Party wanted a young leader Mr Holland was selected and Mr Hamilton was thrown overboard. Later Mr Holland and other National Party representatives entered the War Administration. They remained in it for three months, and then the miners strike in the Waikato took place. Mr Holland demanded that the miners should go to gaol and that the law should be upheld The War Administration met to discuss the situation, and every member was there except Mr Bodkin They all agreed that .there was no alternative. but to remit the sentences on the miners, for the Federation of Laboui was going to call ou the whole transport system of the country Mr Holland said he differed from the others, but that as the Prime Minister wanted to get a unanimous decision he would walk out. Mr Kyle said the National Party s resolution to withdraw was only

brought forward to try to bring Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton out of the War Cabinet Mr Hamilton. Mr Coates. Mr Massey, and himself voted against it. When the resolution was passed Mr Poison asked what position members who had voted against it were to take in the party He said that he was going to move that they should be rejected. “I said, ‘l’m retiring. I’m ah Independent.’ ” added Mr Kyle. “This is the first occasion in 21 years that 1 have ever mentioned a candidate’s name,” said Mr Kyle, when he referred to a statement by the National candidate, Mr J. T. Watts “Mr Watts says that 1 am a member of the People’s Movement. The position is that the People’s Movement rang me up in Christchurch and asked if it could support me. I replied, ‘You can al] support me. I am not a member of the People s Movement.”