A NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 6

A NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

Nobody is likely to bo much excited by the report that a now political party has been formed in Auckland. Tho average man’s comment on tho nows will most naturally be that of the chaplain in the song: “Yes, I’ve heard that tale before.” New political parties arc very easily born. It is a different matter, however, to keep thorn alive after they are born. Their rate of infantile mortality bears uo sort of relation to Sir Truby King’s minimum. Half a dozen years ago we had the National Progressive and Moderate Labor Party, produced in Auckland. It had a great christening, but it refused to grow. A People’s Party in Christchurch was still-born. Three years ago there was a Young New Zealand Party, born in Invercargill. It omitted some lusty cries, but it never got past its cradle. Air Vcitch’s Liberal Party lives, with a'“parliamentary membership of one, but it is not clear yet that it exists for anything more than to restore an old name, if that can bo done, to its parent National Party. A few weeks ago wo received from Auckland a copy of the programme of the New Zealand Country Party. Alalcontcuts of Reform, in the most northern province, have formed country parties before; it has been a most discouraging occupation. Tho list of attempts that have been made or rumored to break up the monotony of our tripartite politics could be extended, but it would only be itself monotonous. What must strike one first about the new Auckland effort which is reported is tho extreme modesty of its promoters. A meeting was held, said to have been largo and enthusiastic, at which a name was chosen for the party, an organiser was appointed, officers were elected, and a provincial executive was set up. But, apart from the presumably paid organiser, wc are not told the names of any of those “ representative citizens ” who attended the meeting, who will bo the leaders of the new departure, and on whose experience, wisdom, ami power of inspiring confidence the prospect ol its becoming even a nine-days’ interest must depend. Tho personnel of the executive, wo are told, will very soon be announced, but why not have announced it from the start? “Men ot vision, courage, and ability,” as the supplied report describes them, 11 they were truly convinced of “something rotten in tho State of Denmark,” which it was their part to put right, should not have been so shy of displaying themselves as rclorniejrs as tho controlled publicity of this inaugural meeting would imply. The method chosen might suggest doubts, even on their own part, at tho beginning of their movement, as to whether it was likely to prove anything more than a fiasco. Tho meeting, wo arc told, was drawn from “every shade of political opinion.” and that would appear from the views expressed. Complaints made of tho Re term Government were that it had produced no programme for tho solving of farmers’ problems or to lighten tho burden of the people’s taxation. It was also complained that it had followed a programme, in regard more especially, wo must suppose, to farmers’ ills, which was pernicious in tire approach that it made to Socialism. The new party still waits to proclaim its programme, but it would appear to differ from the earlier political movements we have cited in aiming at a fusion more <than a new division. It desires to be called tho “ United New Zealand Tarty,” and its aim apparently would he to combine tho present Reform and National Parties, relegating the bad leaders of the former to a subordinate place. The two-party system would thus be restored, to the disadvantage of political Labor. -The fusion of Reform and Liberalism which was discussed two years ago, and failed then to materialise, would bo fulfilled under other auspices. It is a largo dream. Reform members of Parliament ill Wellington profess to know nothing of the Auckland movement, and electors generally will not be too much impressed till they know more of it.