OUT FOR THE BEST

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 8

OUT FOR THE BEST

REGARDLESS OF PARTY NEW POLITICAL ORGANISATION Several conferences of business men have recently been held in Wellington, and as the outcome of their deliberations the New Zealand Political Association has been formed. The chief planks in the platform of the association are: To oppose all legislation having for its objective the nationalisation of the means of production and distribution, and in general to oppose all legislation of an extreme Socialistic character; to oppose undue Government interference with private enterprise, and to promote, irrespective of party politics, the candidature for and return to Parliament of persons who are best qualified to represent the public. The president of the association (Mr. Edwin Salmond) in discussing its objects with a representative of this journal, stated that for some time past many electors in this city and elsewhere had been considering the question of forming an association such as that of which he had the honour of becoming first president. Much time and consideration had been given to the project and he had no hesitation in stating that in his opinion the platform would appeal to a considerable section of electors, and that the association would become an important factor, numerically, in supporting desirable Parliamentary candidates, not necessarily of any particular party. Formerly there had been little, if any, inducement in that direction to offer prospective candidates, and by the activities and influence of the association the disadvantage would be largely overcome. Measures for the benefit of the people generally in preference to party politics was the dominating principle of the association. The following have been elected to office President, Mr. Edwin Salmond ; vice-president, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop; committee, Messrs. J. L. Arcus, M. O. Barnett, W. J. Gaudin, J. Martyn Hume, C. D. Morpeth, J. Munt, F. H. Mather, V. G. Rhind. The secretary Is Mr. T. Lisle.

A nominal annual subscription for both sexes has been fixed; headquarters of the movement have been secured locally, and being non-party the association already enrolled a large number of members.