THE UNITED PARTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 75, 24 February 1930, Page 7

THE UNITED PARTY.

“FARCICAL CAUCUS.”

CHARGES BY MR DAVY.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. “The United Party conference is possibly the most practical political meeting ever reported to the public, particularly as the organisation generally was not aware officially that it was to take placej” said Mr A. E. Davy, former chairman of the Dominion executive of the United New Zealand Political Organisation, in a statement. “In a letter sent by Mr Vincent Ward to Messrs McGrath, Lonergan, Perry, Kerr, Burns, Sievwright and Henderson,” said Mr Davy, “he states: ‘I have also written, on my father’s instructions, to several friends of the party, as decided at the meeting we had recently in the Cabinet room, asking them to be here on Friday, February 21.’ It is quite evident, therefore, that the only ones who were advised that a conference was to take place were the members of the Dominion executive named above and ‘the several friends,’ namely, Messrs. J. T. Hogan (Independent member for Rangitikei), Stevenson (chairman of Sir Joseph Ward’s committee in Invercargill), S. Solomon, K.C. (Dunedin), J. R. Hayward (Christchurch), J. Trevethick (Auckland), R. Masters (Stratford) and A. Jull (Waipawa). This is the boasted conference of the United New Zealand Political Organisation, called to discuss important matters in connection with the organisation. It is a joke to suggest that the conference was representative. Not one delegate had been appointed by hie branch or the centre faction. The elimination of the headquarters organisation is aimed at. Far from being the happy family gathering Mr Hawkes would have us believe, the caucus, according to my information, was the reverse. Mr Forbes attempted to wield the “big stick” but it proved a weapon of straw. It is rather significant that Mr Broadfoot was one of the founders of the party and was its first announced candidate. Criticism evident ly is not to be tolerated. That the departure of these members (Messrs Broadfoot and Fletcher) was not regretted is untrue. It is not a fact that nearly two hours were taken up with pleading persuasion by numerous members, including the Independent member for Rangitikei and members of Cabinet.

“Despite the attempt to whitewash Sir Joseph Ward and the Cabinet, there was a strong undercurrent throughout the proceedings. Charges, counter-charges and ultimatums were the order of the day. 1 am more than over reminded of the ostrich which, when danger threatens, is supposed to hide its head in the sand. The conference was obviously called to provide that sand and the motion of confidence and loyalty passed by those few devout who were present will prove as valueless as that same sand to the ostrich. By the same token I notice that the leader of the Reform Party has been equally busy gathering sand. In a very short time the public will realise that the statements I made recently were founded on facts and that the need is greater than ever for the public to take a hand and bring these party manoeuvrings and bickerings to an end.”

HON. G. W. FORBES’S REPLY.

VALUABLE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Mr Davy’s statement was referred to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, who, in the absence of the Prime Minister, presided at the recent gathering of Parliamentary members of the United Party in Wellington. Mr Forbes stated, that the meeting had been called on the instruction of the Prime Minister and it had been Sir Joseph Ward’s intention to have been present. It was purely a meeting of the Parliamentary members of the party and the Dominion executive, together with certain other gentlemen who were recognised heads of the party in various parts of the country. It was not, nor was it intended to be, a conference of the United party’s organisation, as suggested by Mr Davy. “I can state emphatically that verv valuable work was accomplished, particularly in laving down the basis of the future reorganisation of the party and placing it on a much more tory footing than had been the case during Mr Davy’s tenure of the position of organiser and later as chairman of the organisation. “In spite of what took place at the commencement of the meeting, including the not altogether unexpected resignation of one member of the party, the subsequent proceedings were marked by the utmost harmony. MR FLETCHER’S INTENTIONS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 23. Interviewed to-day, Mr J. S. Fletcher United member for Grey Lynn, stated that he intended to confer with his committees this week, and later to make a statement, as promised, on the Government’s handling of the nnem.pioyment problem.

MR BROADFOOT INTERVIEWED

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 23. “I have nothing to discuss. People have been making all kinds of assertions since the caucus. I do not know what authority they have for them, said W. J. Broadfoot in reply to an inquiry regarding his having loft the United Party caucus with Mr J. o. Fletcher. , . . , . Mr Broadfoot merely laughed when it was suggested that he was disgruntled regarding bis non-inclusion in the Cabinet.