FAITHFUL FEW

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1926, Page 4

FAITHFUL FEW

SECOND EDITION

SMOTHERED UNDER, j NATIONAL PARTY POLICY. WATCH AND WAIT. (Special to “Northern Advocate.") WELLINGTON, This Day. The National Party met today. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) was re-elected leader of the party and Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua) was elected whip. In a subsequent interview with the Press, Mr. Forbes stated that the question of the action of the party during the session was discussed, and it was decided that, owing to the rej suit of the recent election returning j Mr. Coates with an overwhelming mai jority of supporters bound to him by a personal pledge, it was more than ever necessary that those numbers j should maintain vigilant scrutiny of Mho Government’s proposals and ad--1 ministration, so that there should be |no abuse of the autocratic- power (placed in the hands of the , • Prime J Minister. The National Party recognised that it was vital to continuance lof the country’s prosperity that there [should be strict economy in the coun--I try’s finances, that land settlement! [should bo pushed on vigorously, -and] ( that local industries should be stimu- [ lated and encouraged in every way possible. To that end the party [would endeavour to see that its policy 1 ! was fully recognised and acted upon | by the Government. i The party realised the smallness of j its numbers and, intact, of the whole) Opposition, and the -great majority of j the Government rendered the National Party’s task very difficult, ns use of the division lobbies to emphasise the strength of any criticism was absolutely futile. The only avenue through which the party could work was argument and criticism, and to that end they would devote their best energies, leaving the decision and responsibility, as it must be, in the hands of the Prime Minister who, with i the great majority at his back, had( practically been given a dictatorship. |