A NATIONAL PARTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 August 1925, Page 10

A NATIONAL PARTY.

ADVOCATES IN HAWERA. MEETING BECOMES LIVELY. RESOLITTION FAYOURS SPEAKERS. In continuation of their campaign in favour of a National Party—to he formed by a fusion of the Reform and Liberal Parties —Mr H. Atmore, ALP., and the Hon. J. A. Hanan addressed a well-attended meeting at the Opera House. Hawera last evening. There were frequent interjections, off >vhich the speakers invariably scored, but towards the close of the meeting there were interruptions and' a little excited talk, which several times resulted in the voices of speakers and questioners becoming inaudible amidst the general confusion. On a show of hands, however, a motion favouring a National Party, as suggested, was carried, an amendment proposing the disbandment or the present Liberal or National Partv, and advising it 6 supporters to join "up with the Reform Party, being lost.

His Worship the Mayor, in introducing the speakers, said that there had been a lot of criticism levelled against the old Liberal Party, it lieing stated that it could not progress until it changed its name. As far as he could see the Premier and the Reform Government had taken the Liberal Party out for a little walk, with no serious intention of fusing. When Mr Wilford saw that there was nothing doing with the Reform Party he had formed his National Party, thereby getting ahead of the Reform Party and, to use Air Coates’ expression, had “stolen their thunder.” Mr J. R. Corrigan, M.P., who spoke biiefly before Mr Atmore commenced his address, said he was not there to make a political speech. A voice : Why not ? Proceeding, Mr Corrigan said that no one warty in the House to-day bad a majority," and to get a working majority it had been necessary for the Reform Party to get the assistance of three members who had been returned in the Liberal interests. It had been realised that the three-party system was no good for the proper government of the country, and at the death of Mr Massey, when Air Coates had been made Premier, that gentleman had been the first to make overtures. However, they had proof that Mr Coates had not been sincere. Negotiations had been commenced and conferences held, hut had Air Coates at the commencement sent the letter to the Liberal Party that he did finally the T.ibern-l Partv would not have gone the length that "it did. Air Corrigan concluded by stating that the country wanted a National Government in order that it might be saved from the adversities from which it was suffering at the present moment. Air Atmore’s address was similar to that delivered at Waverlev. He said that the Liberal and Reform Parties had been coming along on. converging lines, and now if a Reformer or a Liberal wanted to make trouble he had to reach hack on to the old ghosts of the east. To-day the Reform Party and the Liberal Party were one, and they had each decided that it was in the best interests of New Zealand that a strong, stable government should be formed, yet for party and personal reasons the" amendment in favour of such a move had been defeated hv 34 votes to 30. Proceeding, the speaker mentioned model Acts passed in New Zealand some time ago. and in which the Dominion had led the world. He pointed out, however, that there was now an absence of legislation of such outstanding merit. The present campaign was being taken in the hope that the necessity for taking the decisive step in Favour of stable government would be forced upon members. The speaker had addressed meetings on the matter in Invercargill, Nelson and Waverley, and he had not had five voices in dissension against the scheme. A voice : Rot! Mr Atmore: Yes, it was rot for the five to vote that way. Proceeding, the speaker said that with the state things were in at present the Government could not put through any contentious legislation. They dare not do it. Was it likely that Air Coates could succeed in obtrrning a sufficient majority where his greater predecessor had failed? A voice : Yes !

Mr Atmore: I notice you are pretty well an orphan in your “Yes.” Continuing, the speaker said that no party had the slightest clianee of obtaining a majority over the other two, but the Reform Party in coming to an election without fusion was willing to take a chance that was not in the lie&t interests of the people. Further, the advocates of the Nationalist Party wanted to avoid any bitterness that would come as the Result, of fusion after the elections. Mr Atmore showed how revolutionary Socialism was permeating the British Empire and restricting output. Mr Sheat: Do capitalists ever restrict output ? Mr Atmore: Where a capitalist restricts output he is doing wrong. Mr Atmore explained how the parliamentary system of government could not function with more than two parties. Mr f(. A. Taylor: What do you mean function ? Mr Atmore advised the interjector to look no a dictionary. Tlie Hon. Mr Ha-nan said that the attendance at t.h° meeting reflected the '••shelving inreest of the neop'e in Parliament and in pditical life. For some ‘•mo past the indifference of the people •rwsids Parliament and political nfrc!rs had been a matter for regret, and 'her knew that wl eie they had such a state of affairs it was only a matter of time when the institution perished. Haring the ."> years he had been in Pariament he could say that he had never -ten pooh a listless state of affairs as • t obtaining recently. The position u--* v represented u remniki’.bh? state o! affairs. A voice • ‘‘ls that why you are getting out?” Proceeding, the speaker, who did net catch 1 lie remark, said that if they s anted a progressive Government they must have outside a live, active and intelligent public opinion. It was mainly by education that such opinion con'd be built up. Mr Hanan su'd the country had been enjuving, prosperity brought about tr • omc extent bv the measures passed by Liberal Government. He wanted to see his country again placed in the forefront of nations, leading the world in the measures passed by its Government. The present three-party system vas not giving effect to efficient government. Voices: “Give us a policy speech.” The chairman here asked interjeotors to re 1 rain from attempting to put the speaker off his remarks. Passing on, the speaker contended chat the Government of to-day had no land policy. Many people wanted to retnn the land, but 'and was not available to them. There were large estates that should he broken up. There was a great need for more production if

New Zealand was going to bear prooerly the burdens she was camying. Although the amendment moved in he House by the member for Nelson had been lost, the s peaker be’ieved that the great majority of people were behind the idea. The people wanted to oee a strong stable Government. The negotiations of the Reform Party had represented an illusive trick—a hollow oretenee, although he be'ieved that the naionty of the members of the Reform Part*. - had been sincere. He was indined to think that the Prime Miniser. Mr Coates, was leg-roped to. certain individuals and certain interests. He wanted to see the progressive elements of the Reform and Liberal Parties ,'ome together and work .shoulder to shoulder for the good of New Zealand. Vhv should there not be a nation a' sentiment in this country? A voice: “We can’t get it.” Mr Hanan replied that nationalism -was not dead in Now Zealand, and sacrifices made by the country’s soldiers would lead the people to higher planes if duty. He believed that the peop e had the nationalist spirit, and that when the case was put before them tbev would rise to the occasion and do heir duty at the next election, by reaming men in favor of such a Government being formed. The chairman said be -made no

•oology for moving the following reso-lut-orT. Although he he’d an official ’osition. he refused to be muzzled. The resolution read : . . •‘That in the opinion of this meeting t is imnerfibively necessary that a strong, stable National Government •houlil be formed be foie the coming election,, in order' to provide a comprehensive scheme ol social, and economic betterment, and by so ministering to the itue needs of the people avert the threatened trouble of a breakdown ot reoresentative Government.” Mr J. W. Harding seconded. Mr B. Mnggeridge moved as an amendment: “That while the meeting accords tlif speakers a vote of thanks for their able addresses, it is of opinion chat the present Liberal or National Shirty should wind up and advise its supporters to link up with the Reform Party.

Mr L. A. Taylor seconded pro forma. Mr H. 11. Gibson asked for some information. They bad . it.seiied to a discourse in which they had been told About the greater production of. boots bv American workmen, but what he wanted to know was if the two parties lid not fuse, what hope wa s there of such a fusion, and what was the Nationalist Party going to do about it? Mr YV. Sheat also stated that the meeting had been given no information. Tliev had not been told what ‘‘this great, progressive, stable, national 10I icy” was going to be. Further remark,- by Mr Sheat were •cut short by the chairman stating that chat gentleman was not sticking to. the •mint. However, he could ask a question. but the amendment was going to nut to the meeting first. The amendment was .'ost on a show of hands and the motion carried.

]n reply to Air Sheat’.- query as to what was the policy of the National Party, Mr Atmoie replied that the mestioner was asking them to declare the policy of a party that they were -sking the people’s help to form. Was Mr Sheat reasonable?' Mr Sheat empalitica'ly stated that there was a National Party in New Zealand. Further remarks bv Mr Sheat were drowned by general hubbub and eires of ■‘Hit down” «,hd “Put him out.” In reply to a further question, Mr Atrnore said that until a National Party was formed by a fusion of the 1 iheral and Reform Parties he would remain an independent. The meeting again became live'y. the chairman threatening to have disturbing elements lemoved by the police. The meeting was brought to a close Mr Hanan proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the chair, which was carried with acclamation. MR GIBSON HAS THE FLOOR. (To the Editor. 1 ) Sir.-—At last night ’s political pantomime T made the following remarks and nsk“d the undermentioned questions: — “Air Chairman, you have moved a motion and attempted to have it carried, and you have allowed an amendment to be moved and. seconded. Alight T. as a supporter of the principles involved in your motion, say this: We have had two very eloquent addresses tlsis evening. It has been very interesting to rue to learn in two hours: firstly, that one Yankee cobbler can make a pair of boots in the same time as can three Woodbines, and, secondly, that there lias been a great march of progress in., the last 80 years from the North Cape to the Bluff. But I came here, Mr Chairman, in response to an advertisement which led me to believe that I was to gain some inside information on the matter of the abortive fusion of the Reform and the. Liberal Parties and the birth of the National Party. In, short. I expected to hear what Mr Wilford said to Air Goates and why they quarrelled. Will the two gentlemen kindly tell me in five minutes, shortly and concisely, exactly why the two parties did not. fuse, what hope there is of fusion, and, if there is none, then, what the National Party is going to do about it? And please let tlieon be brief.” Since my question was lost sight of in the subsequent uproar following on the speech of some other gentleman of Socialistic persuasion, from whoip I

wish to dissociate myself entirely, might I now request, as an out-and-out Fusionist. that, some member of the National Party answer my question through the medium of vour paper. I want to know who was to blame for the failure to fuse, and expected last, night to hear something in favour of the theory that the National Party is the cure for the evil. If the two gentlemen wlio spoke last night are samples of the Nationalists, I quite see how nothing can fuse with them. Everything about them will be “dead” before they have finished, their inaugural addresses. Air Atm ore, whilst very eloquent, is like his electorate—very flowery. Too flowery for this time of tiie year. The Hon. Air Harnan’s speech reminded me of the following incident: — Editor to Reporter: And what did the noted politician say about the matter? Reporter: Nothing sir. Editor: Yes, I know that; but how manv columns of it? Verily the speech delivered by our worthy member. Air Corrigan, was the most relevant explanation given last evening. As for the subsequent disorder, one cannot help blaming to a certain extent the speakers for boring everyone to tears with their wearying irrel.evancies, but mostly do I blame the chairman. For that gentleman’s future instruction might I point out that, the matter of interjection lies solely in .the discretion of the chairman, who can allow them or not as he chooses, and who alone, en if does allow occasional interjections, is to be the judge as to whethe r or not an interjeetor is making a nuisance of himself. Similarly it is the chairman alone who shall limit the time allowed to any speaker to. a motion, and not the mob. I admit, Sir. that there was a “political nuisance.” at. last night’s meeting, notably, the Socialistic gentleman who attempted l to follow me; but might I say that, the spectacle of the Mayor of Ilawera allowing the mob to count, out a political opponent, who had become too verbose and whose speech was obviously not wanted by those present, and then losing liis temper when that opponent’s Socialistic friends would not let. him (the Mayor) speak, was the weakest thing I have seen in my short political experience. There is ito necessity for the Mayor to cease to take an "active part in politics, but when he presides at a meeting he must remain entirely unbiassed. —I am, etc., H. B. GIBSON. Hawera, August IS,