ANOTHER "INDEPENDENT"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 101, 23 January 1920, Page 6

ANOTHER "INDEPENDENT"

MB. HANAN AND THE LIBERALS. It is reported that yet another meiu her has ioined the ranks of the Independents as the outcome of the caucus'of the Liberal Tarty on Wednesday. <It will be' remembered that Mr. Hanan said nt the luncheon to Sir Joseph Ward in the afternoon that he was not so closely associated with the Liberal Party as he had been, in past years. At the meeting of the imrtv which, of course, was not held in public, Mr. Hanan went somo distance further in dissociating himself from tbe party. Exactly what his attitude is has vet to boi disclosed, but he certainly has made a clear soveranco from the Liberals, and he has said that ho will not Duht undt;r the banner of Mr. Mac Donald in the House when Parliament assembles.. The news docs not come wholly as a surprise, as it' has been known for a long time that Mr. Hanan has had visions of independence. The defection of Mr Craigic from tho party has been previously noted. At the elections he told bis constituents that he would not declare whether he would vote for the Opposition or the Government in a no-confidence motion, saving that if he made such a declaration ho would not be an Independent member. He has been, consistent with his declaration by remaining away from the Liberal caucus, and he is not to be accounted a member of tho Liberal Party any longer. It is noteworthy, also, that Mr. S. G. Smith, of Taranaki. still retaina his complete indeoendence.