"A LOYAL BODY"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 38, 13 August 1935, Page 10

"A LOYAL BODY"

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES

DENIAL OF DISSENSION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 12. Further conjectures regarding differences in the Democrat Party, with a suggestion that a?, entirely new political organisation might emerge as a result, were published in Christchurch on Saturday. The matter was referred today to Mr. A. E. Davy, chief executive officer of the party, who characterised the statements as "moonshine" and an attempt at party propaganda. The Christchurch statements are to the effect that there is a lack of harmony between Mr. Davy and some of the most influential supporters of the party, that two factions of the party have been at work in the Rotorua electorate, each with its own particular candidate; that Mr. Davy has been giving undertakings to certain prospective candidates which are not approved by some members of his executive; that there are difficulties over finance; and that a section, including Sir Alexander Herdman, Mr. F. W. Doidge, and Mr. W. Goodfellow, is likely to break away and form a new party independent of Mr. Davy.

"The thing is absurd," said "Mr. Davy, who arrived- at Auckland to attend to matters of party organisation. He added that the untruths were so obvious that newspapers publishing them must substantiate their states ments or stand convicted of deliberate and malicious party propaganda. They should publish the names' of the dissatisfied candidates who were-alleged to be worried about finance, and also the names of the alleged influential supporters who had been active in the formation of the party, but were now dissatisfied with the position. Failing that, they should publish the source of their information.

"The Democrat conference in Wellington next week will be largely attended," Mr. Davy continued. "The candidates are a loyal body of men. and the organisation is working smoothly and efficiently."

Mr. Davy refused to comment on the position in the Rotorua electorate, or rumours regarding the attitude of Mr. Goodfellow to the party. Mr. Goodfellow, he said, was still a member of the national executive.