THE NEW PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 6

THE NEW PARTY

FORMATION OF COUNCILS

MR. STATHAM AND THE SESSION,

- The organisation of the National Progressive and Moderate Labour Party is continuing quietly but, it is claimed, effectively. Mr. 0. E. Statham, M.P., leader of the party, wae in Wellington yesterday, and, prior to returning South, informed a Post representative that last week he, Mr. E. Kellett, \ M.P., and Mr Black (hon. general organiser) were engaged in the formation of a district executive council ii> Christchurch. A number of representative men had come forward readily, and/ at a further meeting to be held next week, a strong, council would become an established fact. This would complete, the formation of councils in the feur centres, and similar work in other parts of the Dominion . would follow. Incidentally Mr. Statham said letters of inquiry and encouragement had been received from all parts. The first b,ig public meeting of the party woxild be .held in Wellington lon 24th August v ■'. ;

Referring to the coming session arid the fact that it ha.d been delayed so long, Mr. Stabham expressed his agreement with the view of the Hon. A. M. "Myers that there ought to be a Deputy Prime Minister. To hie, mind it was nothing short of a scandal that because the managing director (the Prime Minister) happened" to be away from the, Dominion the whole business of tho Legislature should he brought to a standstill. The next sesision, "which, admittedly would be a hea'yy one, was about' three months late in starting;_, consideration of the many pressing problems with which the counfoy was faced was being delayed by that .time. The tariff question alone would take weeks to settle, and meantime manufacturers and business men throughout th& country were loft in a state of doubt and uncertainty, to the detriment of trade and indiistry. This, he felt, helped in no small measure to bring about the present 'dislocation and stress. Business men wanted to know where they stood before entering into-" commitments' upon which the too long deferred but now pending revision of the Customs tariff might have a most material effect.

, There were many social questions crying out for attention. ' When ir Christy church on Saturday he had been pre; sent, with Mr. tCellett, at a deputation of women dovoting themselves to social reform.' Thd revelations made by these women with persona! knowledge shoved a most spiralling state of affairs in 1 connection , with housing and' sanitation. One case quoted was that of Wo families numbering 22 persons who were found living in a, four-roomej cottage. Such a state of affairs simply should not '■ he allowed to exist, especially in a young country like New Zealand; the fact that they did exist was a standing disgrace to the Legislature. Not only in Christchurch, but iq other centres, there was work to be done, and to be done quickly, if this reproach was to be removed from ~the) social system. The health, comfort, and happiness of the people should bs the very, foundation of the patient. Then there was the all-important question of finance. • The huge public debt of approximately two hundred millions, the crippling rate of taxation, and' theenormpuy increase in departmental 'experiditure L were quite enough to make every thinking man and woman pause and ask whither the country was drifting. Parliament undoubtedly had much work to do in deal-; ing with finances, especially in'the present state of the market for the country's primary products, and the 'Sooner it got-to work the better.