THE CALL FOR UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 114, 18 May 1925, Page 6

THE CALL FOR UNITY

A NATIONAL PARTY.

TO TIIE EDITOB.

Sir,—Added to the grief of the people at the loss of the late Prime Minister is bewilderment as to the choice of his successor and the menace of the present political situation. ' ■ The personality of the late Eight Hon. W. i\ Massey possibly counted ior the sway, of 70,000 votes in a General Election; he was regarded by all as a good and sensible man who did liis best for the country and the Empire, and his departure has left us with mingled feelings of sorrow, pride, and trouble. What the future will bring is hard to see, but from a dreary outlook now arises one clear and definite call for unity. Mr. Atmore's lead, through your columns on Saturday last, has come with surprising suddenness and power. He is probably the only man in the House who could have struck this clarion note. . He is, I believe, the only really "Independent" in Parliament, iand was elected as such with the biggest percentage of voters in any electorate.

The present situation with regard to party politics arid tho burdens qf public "and private life are accountable for great dissatisfaction and anxiety. This .has raised the hopes of "a certain class ol men, whose aim, consciously or unconsciously, is in the direction of Bolshevism and the disintegration of civilisation. This little country; ivith the enterprise and confidence of youth, once led the "world'in the way of social legislation arid political experiment, but gave that up some years ago, and now stands at the crossways staggered at a national loss. Sir Francis Bell (and all honour to him) carries on temporarily but without ambition, and with his heart in the gruve of his former colleague. His party ha» accepted this,: but only as marking-time and opening the road for the choice of another leader, while everywhere people are saying we want less of party Government and strife and more national unity —the government of the people by and for the whole''people in a more, independent manner. Why cannot the Premier/be chosen by the Parliament itself rather than by party caucus? Rightly or wrongly, and in my opinion'wrongly, the present Reform Party is regarded as allied to conservatism and reaction. The Liberal Party is now somewhat disintegrated, and has failed to win the support of the country, while Socialistic! Labour has been very aggressive and succeeded merely in thoroughly alarming the community. •■ ,;'

The-weakness of the -Independent in his detachment'from all these parties-13 now his strength, and Mr. H. Atmore has given us a lead; in the, direction of national unity which will, lot us hope, be taken up from one end of the country to the other.. One can only deal with one or two aspects of your interview with him, but already several people have remarked in my hearing that they would like to.hear more from him upon these, matters where we need help arid,guidance. We must not merely look to the Pai-liament for enlightenment and leave discussion within the four corners of the House, for we are almost on the eve of another General Election—and this probably the most fateful in the history of New Zealand. The active propaganda of sound economy and progress is now the crying need of the-moment, especially to counteract the Socialistic fallacies and selfishness of Communism, which are being promulgated everywhere. . Mr. Atmore has said "platform effort is required" to meet the misleading efforts of revolutionaries, and, though agreeing to this most heartily, it is "hard to see how this can be brought about unless he and others of like mind can be persuaded to come out upon v the stage and put matters more fully before us. From time to time we have noticed what a Rupert of debate he is in the House,' and from his own retired constituency come reports of' meetings and work which display a strength and purpose which, if extended, would be of great benefit to this country. As an Independent, Mr. Atmore has, for, a -long time, withstood offers of alliance for.place and power, and can now speak with authority. But, as' I have said .'before,'" I-do ■ not-quite see how public meetings can be organised to enable us to induce' Mr. Atmore, and others of like mind, to address the electors on an Independent platform. I, for one, however, am ready to put my hand in my. pocket as a proof of earnestness. We want organisation to gather up advocates from all parties—Reform, Liberal, and sane Labour—if only to save the country from drifting into the hands of revolutioi/avics.—l am, etc., ■'■■'-• THINKER. '

"One of the Voters" also discusses, in a letter to "The Post," the political position and tho need for a new national party. .The writer considers that much of the support given to Reform was because of the popular trust in Mr. Massey. The people need guidance now in chooEing men who will place the Dominion before their personal interests. "It was, therefore, witli" great pleasure that I read in the columns of Saturday's 'Evening Post''Mr. H. Atmore's rallying cry for a strong national party. The member for Nelson is peculiarly fitted to. lift his voice in'guidance at'the present juncture. He belongs to no party. He is the only real Independent in the House of Representatives. He is-not a claimant for party prizes or rewards. Ho has been returned to Parliament by a greater percentage of votes than that given, to'any.other, member of', the present Parliament.; Further, he is a fine speaker, fearless, logical, 'and well-in-formed, and most convincing when there is a wrong to right or a good cause to advocate." The writer strongly supports Mr. Atmbre's advocacy of, a national party, and urges that Mr. Atmore should he asked to give a further exposition of his views from the public platforms of the Dominion. ."