“NATIONAL" PARTY’S AIM

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 10

“NATIONAL" PARTY’S AIM

TO PREVENT BUSINESS INTERESTS CONTROLLING POLITICS “ FRIENDLY SOCIETY SPIRIT " DESIRED [Per United Press Association.] AVKIVLINGTON, July 21. Mr T. jM. AVilford, addressing tho executive of the Hull, branch of tho National Parly on Monday night, said: “Tho absence, of a majority of any party in Parliament to-day has produced the worst possible example of tho three-party system. As i. said in my letter of Juno 4, necessary legislation, through tho absence ol a party with a majority, often cannot find its way on to the Statute Book. Tho offer of our party to the Bcfonn Party recently to form a National Party was ' turned down ’ by the Prime Minister, who wrote, inter alia, on July 7 last, that for many reasons ho did not think the formation of a new Government was practicable at the present time. That decision we had to accept, but wo all felt that it would not moot the wishes of the electors in Now Zealand, and, moreover, that it did not express what Hie country requires. AVo felt that a continuance of the Liberal-Labor Party as such would not help in the formation of a National Parly, for wo could pot expect, after our experience of tho negotiations, any move forward in tho desired direction, uotwitlisanding the fact that wc had offered, if a National Party were formed, to leave tho whole selection of Ministers for the new party in the hands of tho Prime Minister. This the Prime Minister cannot deny. AVo look ibis .step to remove any suspicion that- bargaining for office in the now Government was an obstacle to the movement wc had before, ns. The caucus resolution of the Bcfonn Parly was (hat that party desired fusion, and when wo were told tliaf. i't was impracticable aider receipt of that resolution, wo felt compelled lo take Han slop that lias been taken.

“The alteration of'the name, with a national policy, will enable ns lo get away from the old party lines, and we believe the alteration will help to end the faulty three-parly system which wo bad, in (he negotiations, been trying to eradicate. Wc intend in due course to issue a national policy, which, we hope, will attract all shades ot political thought except those who are opposed to tho maintenance ot constitutional government, and believe, from the announcements ol all parties in 'Parliament, that in these days Liberal principles must he the driving force in any National Party. The National Party will not be manacled to yesterday, but can m.V'C forward to meet changing times and changed conditions. We want to make our Parliament a great national committee attending to tho affairs of the nation as it would to its own. Weave out to create ‘ a friendly society spirit ’ in politics, and would welcome the assistance ol am- men on the Reform side who will help us to do this. Wc want Lo help to create friendly relations between Capital and Labor. “ Wc believe monopoly lies behind the great increase in the cost ot Jiving, for a command of prices has been established by small croups of persons and great industrial combinations, and competition, tho great regulator ot prices, has at times been practically shut out.

“ Business men want peace, and wisli to have a chance to prepare years ahead for development, and not to be the creatures ot Government whims. We want to see whether ‘ big business ’ has entered politics and is subsidising it, as we have read of in other countries. We want to stop ‘ big business ’ controlling politics. \\ e realise that science, machinery, and invention have made radical changes, which must bo considered and provided for. Former theories may have to go and old practices may have to bo scrapped. We think a- National Party can prevent the building up of profits for trusts at the expense of the people. With a minority Government, this cannot ho done. Wo want to see a stable position and economic safety, and while we require development we do not require it at any price. We want to see the. National Party going ahead, with no old scores to bo paid oft, no resentments to be satisfied, and no revolution to be attempted. “All who wish to work in the common interest should help us. Bet us try and bring under the National Party all classes together upon a platform of accommodation and common interest. Alany people by force of habit vote a particular way lor a particular parly. We want those people to join with the new party, which will have the kindest sympathy with every projoct for social betterment. A National Party should break up any partnership between money and power, and in that wav lies tho Gate of Liberty. In fact, under a National Party all could work for tho whole of the people, not for some of the people.”