REFORM SPLIT?

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 4

REFORM SPLIT?

HEW POLITICAL BODY FORMED FINANCE ASSURED FOR BIG RECRUITING CAMPAIGN [Sfkcul to tub •STAB.’] AUCKLAND, August 18. _ For some days past rumors have been prevalent in the city regarding a serious breakaway from the Reform Party, and the formation of a new political organisation to bo reciuited from dissatisfied supporters of the Ministerial Party and tho members of the Liberal Party. A meeting was held last night, at which an executive was appointed, the personnel of which will be announced in a- day or two. Mr A. E. Davy, late organiser lor the Reform Party, has accepted a similar position with the new party, which for the time being will bo known as the United Notv Zealand Party Political Organisation. The following report of tho meeting referred to has been supplied by the organisers:— A large and enthusiastic meeting of representative citizens drawn from cverv shade of political opinion was hold’iast evening, when it was unanimously decided to lorm a branch of the United New Zealand Party Political Organisation in Auckland. 1 rominent ox-officials of tlie Nationalist and Reform political organisations wore included in the executive of the new movement, it was unanimously decided to invite Mr. A. E. Davy to accept tho position of dominion organiser. The Convenor, in opening the meeting, said that the faulty adminisliatiou of the present Government was directly responsible ior tho formation of the organisation. Representative citizens right through tho dominion wero so incensed at tho attitude ol tho leaders and tho legislation of the Reform Party that they had made up their minds that they would no longer tolerate it, but would seok_ a remedy. They wero emphaticnlly of tho opinion that, if the present state of affairs continued, tho people, in desperation, would, at_ the next election, place tho Socialistic Labor Party on the Treasury benches. Fortunately, there wero men of vision and courage and ability who, recognising tho danger, wero prepared to initiate, foster, and assist financially a scheme that would prevent such a disaster. r I his would mean the dismissal of tho present ruinous Administration and tho substitution, without regard of party or parliamentary experience, of a party which would indeed legislate in the best interests of ail sections of the community.

This was tho suggestion*, tho convenor wished to place before the meeting, and he believed that not only was it°iu tho host interests of the dominion that such a scheme should he brought to a successful issue, hut he was certain that it would succeed and also result in a two-party system, thus for ever eliminating the danger of the “Red” clement gaining the reins of Government in New Zealand. DOMINION-WIDE A CTIVITIES.

The Convener then proceeded to detail the various meetings that had been held in various portions of the dominion, and stated that sufficient finance was assured to conduct an intensive campaign on behalf of the organisation right up to the 1928 elections. Ho further informed the meeting that branches of the organisation would be formed immediately in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and a dominion conference called within a few weeks, at which all centres would be represented. Several speakers followed, and in dispassionate terms pointed out the difficulties tho country is facing to-day, which will be accentuated to-morrow, and which have been caused in the main by tho Reform Party failing to deeido tho important issues which have faced it. For years past it was felt that tho Government, with a majority sufficient to grapple with every important dominion problem, had failed to give a lead in constructive matters which would have helped to lighten the enormous overload of taxation being carried by the people. it was further stated that the Reform Party, of which so many wore drawn from the rural population, had utterly failed to bring forward anything which will tend to put the primary producer on a sound footing. .In fact, one speaker went so far as to say that the only policy in this direction which had been evolved was one of inaction, which would slowly but iuexorably drive thousands of bona_ fide hard-working settlers off tho holdings. “HANDS OFF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS.” One old Liberal mentioned that he had voted Reform at the last election, because ho was misled into the belief that the Reform Party was diametrically opposed to Socialism and nationalisation. To-day ho is firmly convinced that it is the most Socialistic machine that has ever functioned in the history of the New Zealand Parliament. A perusal, he said, of recent legislation would convince every sane citizen that the Reform Party had indeed endeavored to put into practice the first clause in the Socialistic Labor Party’s objective, “ the Socialisation of the moans of production, distribution, and exchange,” by its interferonco ■\vitii tho private rights of the citizens of the dominion. “Hands off the people’s rights,” he continued should be the slogan of the new party. Th© motion that a branch of the United New Zealand Party organisation be established in Auckland was carried unanimously. The objects, "cncral and specific, wero adopted, and draft rules to govern the provincial branch wero considered. Officers were elected, and a provincial executive set U *lt was decided to publish fully the objects of tho party, and to invite moral and practical support from all sections of the community. _ The office of the organisation will bo opened to-morrow, and those in sympathy with tho league may enrol. It was decided to hold the next provincial council meeting when tho organiser returned from tho south.