THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

tf FOURTH PARTY FORMING, UNION OF COUNTRY MEMBERS, COUNTER BLAST TO, THE LEFT WING,

jto 'TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

;7 ; Wellington, Monday. Nkw political developments, even thus early Jn the session, are following one upon the other hi .succession. Yesterday I sent Some particulars of the strength and objects 0 the now reform or third party; which gave exicli forcible evidence of its vitality on Friday night. Following closely, in the

wake of this remarkable demonstration of activity on the part of Mr. Taylor's section, comes the announcement of a counter move in the formation of yet another party. This [ 3 a country party, composed of country jnembers on t!i& Ministerial side of the House. - Signs of such' a combination have cot been wanting for some time past, and She expediency of a consolidation of forces has now 'been determined upon as a result D f the forward move made by the Taylor' party. This fourth party is yet in a nebulous state, but its formation has been practically decided upon, and it is proposed to - take up a-strong stand in the" defence of country interests during the session. Mr. Rutherford, the member for Himmui, 5 the leader of the new movement, and already he is understood to have associated: frith him such firm Government supporters las Messrs. B. McKenzie, Colvin, Houston, (Jennings, Major, Symes, and Bennett, These members are claimed as "dead, certainties.-' There are also some four or five others who are expected to give the party their " moral support," but who do not oare about avowing their allegiance just now, wing to the fact that their constituencies •Include small towns. ■ OBJECTS OF THE PARTY. : ■'something of the aims of the party were learned in tho course of a chat which I had pith one of its members. Asked whether formation ot the party tad been brought about as stated in consequence of the strong aggressive attitude taken up by the Taylor party, he' admitted that such was the case. The fourth, party, he considered,• was necessary for defensive purposes] in the interests of the country settlers. "The Government has," he said, gone Unite far enough already with their labour legislation,' 1 which v has of late years been altogether in i the interests of the city people. Now we are threatened with a further danger from these 'left wing' extremists, and if they continue as they have s started we shall probably find Mr. Seddon: trying to placate them by offering to fake one or two of their number, say, Messrs. Bedford and Laurenson, into the Ministry. We'have, therefore, as country members, "decided to unite for our own. protection." "What numerical strength do yon count upon?" : : . ' ' "Well, we have already got eight, and we think'we can get 12. Some think we can get more, hut I place it at 12." : "Lnotice that the eight members are all Government supporters.'' _ y f ' ".-.' i "Yes." was the reply, "we need not .' trouble about the Opposition, as we can rely on them -voting with us. They have 24 -members, and our 12' will make 36. Then, on most matters, we can probably count on, '.< say, five of the 'left wingers' also voting ' against the Government. This .makes a ; total of 41, which' would just give us a :.'■, majority." .'"."What" are the principle aims of the party?" ■'"•,''■■';■.■ i''■■:!■ ' '"' .' \ ' "Wo have not," the member replied, . "formulated any platform. We propose to discuss every measure affecting country interests on its merits, .and if it does not satisfy' us we will go to the Government, and say this must not go in, or that must go m 2 and if you do not give us what we "want the Opposition will"