POLITICAL MERGER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 20 February 1941, Page 2

POLITICAL MERGER

NEW LIBERALS AND SOLDIERS JOIN NATIONAL. PARTY MR HOLLAND'S ANNOUNCEMENT j [United Press Association! Wellington, This Day. Another two political parties, the New Liberal Party and the Soldiers' Party, have amalgamated with the National Party. This development was announced yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, following his statement published that morning that the People’s Movement and the National Party had decided to join forces as one political unity. “Following last night’s announcement that the People’s Movement and the National Party had agreed to join forces, I am now able to announce further reinforcements,” said Mr Holland. “The New Liberal Party, with branches in many parts of New Zealand, and the sponsors of the proposed ' Soldiers’ Party, have decided to join forces with the reinforced National Party, so as to unify all the forces having for their objective the maxiI mum war effort, the restoration of personal liberty, the right of the people to [live their own lives in their own way, and the fight against further socialistic ! encroachment. j “Steps are being taken to give adequate representation to these very weljcome additions to our rapidly-growing ; strength on the various branches of the National Party’s organisation, and I extend the warmest possible welcome to all Liberals and others i throughout New Zealand. “I desire to make it clear that the i sponsors of the proposed Soldiers’ ! Party are quite distinct and apart from the official Returned Soldiers’ Association, which, quite properly, is a nonpolitical organisation, and that as a result of an exchange of views between them and myself they have decided not to proceed further with their plans for a widespread extension of their organisation, but to join forces with the National Party as the best means of ensuring a maximum war effort and the rehabilitation of the 'soldiers and other members of the armed forces.” LIBERAL PRESIDENT’S LETTER Mr Holland added that he had received the following letter from Mr W. H. Nash, president of the New Liberal Party:— “At a meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Liberal Party a resolution was carried agreeing to amalgamate under your leadership. “I am firmly of the opinion that in you we have a leader imbued with that steadiness and sincerity of purpose which is so essential in New Zea- | j land to-day, and we call upon all Lib- j ieral supporters to give yo”. their fullest 1 j co-operation.

“It is my belief that after the next election you will be called upon to lead this country, and I feel confident that you will fairly represent ail classes in the community and not merely sectional interests. "From, your repeated public statements I know that while you will give to all sections of the community the full measure of your help and support, you will, at the same time, preserve our ancient heritage of in- i dividual liberty.”

DEVELOPMENT OF NO CONCERN

REFERENCE BY MR FRASER Wellington, This Day. Reference to the merger between the National Party and the People’s Movement, the New Liberal Party and the Soldiers’ Party, was made yesterday by 1 the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. “The only difference I see about the Opposition party under its new conditions is the introduction of a few hyphens,” said Mr Fraser. “They are apparently all anti-Gov-ernment forces,” continued the Prime Minister, “and the development is of no concern to me as head of the Government, but simply a question of internal arrangement affecting our political opponents. “However, if it will enable those concerned to work more closely with the Government in the Dominion’s war effort, then the development is to be welcomed.”

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

LEADER REVIEWS PROGRESS Wellington, This Day. The leader of the Democratic Labour Party, Mr Lee, M.P., has returned from a tour of the South Island, and reported in a statement yesterday very successful meetings. “In Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill and Greymouth, the seating accommodation was not sufficient, and in Runanga, Oamaru and Dunedin the meetings were large and representative,” he said. At the Chamber of Commerce rooms in Christchurch on Saturday night .Mr Lee talked to a meeting of manufacturers which filled the hall, j Mr Lee said that the party w’ould shortly announce a large number of names of prospective candidates though each electorate would not be making a definite choice, from this and other lists till later. Special attention was being paid to electorate activity in the Wellington area, and an organiser would soon be appointed. Commenting on the merger of other

parties with the National Party, the secretary of the Democratic Labour Party, Mr F. M. Earle, said: “I do not | think that the man in the street is at j present very concerned in political merI gers of any description. He is more | vitally interested in seeing that this | country wins both the war and the j peace. So is Democratic Labour.” j LABOUR CANDIDATE MAYORALTY OF WELLINGTON i MR R. McKEEN CHOSEN Wellington, This Day. Mr R. McKeen, M.P., was elected by : the Labour Representation Committee ! last night for the mayoralty of WellI ington at the forthcoming election. A member of the City Council for some 1 years, Mr McKeen represents Welling- | | ton South in the House of Representa- | jtives and is Chairman of Committees. Labour candidates for the City Council were elected as follows:—Mrs C. C. S. Stewart, M.P., Mrs R. Semple, |and Messrs McKeen, C. H. Chapman, [M.P., A. Black, J. Read, P. M. Butler, jP- Holland, A. Parlane. J. H. Collins, |P. Hansen, W. Atkinson, 11. Aspin, J. Fleming, and the Hon T. Brindle ! M.L.C. Those elected to contest seats on the j Wellington Harbour Board were:— I Messrs Brindle, McKeen, Chapman and J. Roberts. GOVERNMENT PARTY CAUCUS GENERAL POLICY DISCUSSED Wellington, This Day. Genera] policy questions were dis- ! cussed yesterday by the caucus of I members of the Parliamentary Labour : Party. The caucus, which met in the [morning and afternoon, will'resume toI dav.