PARTY REORGANISATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 140, 15 May 1936, Page 8

PARTY REORGANISATION.

Tile Socialistic legislation which is being brought into force in this Dominion has aroused the opponents of the Government, and an important gathering was field at 'Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to reorganise the National Party and thus enable it to take a more active part in the political field. At the election we had the National Party (a coalition of Reform and United Parties) and the amorphous Democratic Party. Until this week neither of these parties had a recognised head, but the rank and file can be reckoned by thousands for it is safe to say the majority of the people of New Zealand are antiSocialist. The chief problem is. the election, or selection, of a competent leader who, in the opinion of many supporters, should be an experienced politician but new as to leadership Dunedin Oppositionists desire a change from past conditions, and a similar feeling exists in the North Island. The opinion prevailing is that Messrs Forbes and Coates may be good Parliamentarians and legislators, but as leaders they do not inspire confidence as did Messrs Seddon and Massey. If either Mr Forbes or Mr Coates were selected as leader, the new party now proposed would be still-born. Some believe that Mr W. Downie Stewart would make an ideal leader. He certainly possesses many high qualifications, and had the late Government accepted liis advice with respect to exchange, there would have been no Reserve Bank ready at hand for the Labour Party to manipulate in furtherance of its Socialistic schemes, but it must be remembered that Mr Stewart does not enjoy good health and this would count against him in an election campaign. The progress of the new party will be watched with considerable interest throughout the country.