UNITED POLITICAL PARTY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 January 1930, Page 5

UNITED POLITICAL PARTY

EXECUTIVE MEETING REQUESTED.

XertCgTUpil —Tlcaa Aibuciu Uui* .) WJULiLiiN.GTOxN, Jan. 14. li_u miormai meeting ojl tne memueis ox tne executive or tne united) x\ew Ziealand Political Organisation was iieiu Lo-uay, ad tne members being present witn tne exception or Mr A,. K. Davy, Dominion chairman, who is still m Auckland.

it was unanimously resolved by the meeting that Sir Joseph Ward be requested forthwith to call a special meeting or the executive in accordance with trie rules of the organisation for 3 p.m, on Friday, January 24, when the whole matter relating to. Mr Davy’s recent public .statements will be dealt with; also that a statement to thijs effect be handed to the Press. Under the rules of the organisation a special meeting of the executive cannot be held unless convened by the president or chairman, and seven clear days’ notice of the meeting are required to be given.

COMPLAINTS ENUMERATED

Mil, DAVY’S LETTER TO CABINET

The following is a copy of a letter sent by Mr A. E. Davey to the deputyleader of the United Party (the Hon. G. W, Forbes) and other members of the Cabinet, in which he enumerates his complaints against the Governpient (reports the “Dominion”) : I desire to draw your attention to the manner in which Cabinet has damaged the prestige of the United Political Organisation and of the United! Party. The principal points are set out below :

(1) By their neglect to assist in the establishment of the scheme of organisation agreed upon by the Dominick Executive and put into operation by the Dominion organiser, Mr Moller. (2) By certain members of the Cabinet actively endeavouring to obstruct the organisation in certain divisions. (3) By members of Cabinet calling a secret meeting of a small, sectional minority of the Dominion Executive and instructing them to make a public statement wnieh the organisation tnroughout New Zealand disapproved, and which was to the detriment of the party and organisation. (4) By the attempt of Cabinet to assume control of the party organisation, which was formed with the express purpose of elimiuating such Parliamentary control. Cabinet, realising that they have departed from the objects of the organisation, are now at tempting to extinguish the organisation and substitute Cabinet control. An instance is provided by Cabinet’s unconstitutional action in selecting the candidate for the -Hutt seat, which violated the rights of the organisation and 1 of the supporters of the party in that constituency. (5) After twelve months in office, the failure to put - into operation the land settlement policy indicated in the party platform ,and the purchase of large estates at high prices while- tens of thousands of acres of suitable undeveloped land, well situated for settlement, are awaiting development. (6) The failure to grapple with the ever-growing evil of Departmental control.

(7) By the failure to approach the unemployment problem from a sound economic point of view, and thus prevent its recurrence next winter.

(8) JSy the lack of co-operation between the Leader, Cabinet and the members of the party which is evinced by the failure to hold regular caucus meetings, and the lack of information to private members on important policy questions. (91 By the pro-Labour predilections of the Leader of the party and members of Cabinet, who have persistently truckled to the Socialist Labour party from a desire to retain office, regardless of the country’s welfare. (10) By tlie persistent attempts to wrongfully represent the United Party as the defunct Liberal Party, the United Party having been founded to incorporate the moderate, progressive, thinking people of the community of nil shades of previous political opinion. and the endeavour to represent it as the Liberal Party being totally incorrect. This course has alienated the sympathy and support of large numbers of the present party supporters. (11) Bv the unnecessary and continued bitterness shown to the official Opposition in the House, and the waste of time in criticism of the actions of the past Government and the unwarranted attempt- to malign the ex-Minister of Finance. Surveying the situation, one is forced to the conclusion that the time has arrived for a complete change in the methods of the party and the Cabinet to he adopted. Failing a prompt and complete change in the conduct of party affairs, it is evident that the party will he dangerously near disintegration. Unquestionably, * all signs go to show that not only is this change of methods necessary, hut that there is also needed' a complete review of na- * tional politics in the interests of the people of the Dominion. The present political cut-throat methods, as evidenced in the Hutt by-election, reveal that unless such action is taken, and soon, this -country will reach the state of industrial and financial chaos which obtains in Australia as the result of Soeialist-Labou r administrations.