THE NATIONAL PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19140, 5 October 1925, Page 11

THE NATIONAL PARTY.

SPEEGH BY THE LEADER. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. FUSION AND ITS FAILURE. [by telzghaph.—press association. ] . CHHISTCHURCH. Saturday. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 0, W. Forbes, opened li is campaign for Hurunui at Mackenzie last night. He commenced with reference to his elevation to the leadership, and said they had a fine lot of candidates in the National Party's interests. Referring to fusion, he said the split occ.uirred or the' point that there must be a new party with a new policy—not on the allocation of portfolios. The Reform Party's idea was to carry on with an enlarged Reform Party, but the Liberals would not agree. He went at length into the National Party's policy and said he did not think many could find fault with it. The reforms promised were capable of being put into operation within a reasonable time. There were planks in Mr. Coates' policy that the Reform Party during the time it had been in office had failed to carry out, points that they were now promising to carry out. Turning to finance, he said the interest on public and local body debt equalled £9 per head. He stressed the necessity for effective control of public expenditure. A national stocktaking was wanted and borrowing should be reduced. The Reform Party, he said, had fallen down on closer settlement. He challenged the Government to produce the figures in respect of land acquired for soldiers. He advocated a system of preferential voting in country electorates and a State bank. In conclusion he said the issue at the elections was whether the country was to be run on lines of the party politics of the past or whether they were going to wipe the slate clean and form a national Government representative of the people. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. AUCKLAND EAST. A NATIONAL ASPIRANT. Mr. Oakley Browne has announced his candidature for the Auckland East seat in the interests of the National Party. Mr. Browne was private secretary to Sir Joseph Ward from 1913 to 1919, after which he took up the post of general secretary to the Liberal Party of New Zealand. Mr. Browne accompanied Sir Joseph Ward when the latter attended Imperial Conferences in London | in 1916, 1917 and 1918.

CANDIDATES IN SOUTH.

THE STRATFORD SEAT. [by telegp.apk.—owx correspondent. ] STRATFORD, Saturday. Mr. E. Masters opened his campaign at Pukengahu before a good attendance. The candidate was given a hearty reception, and accorded a unanimous vote of confidence. He explained the objects of the National Party, which aimed to unite all those desirous of placing the interests of the country before their party. They were striving to end the present unsatisfactory three-party system, which prevented the passage of necessary legislation and resulted in weak administration, causing Government inefficiency or worse. RANGITIKEI CONTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] MAKTON. Saturday. Mr. Alfred Lyon, solicitor, of Marton, is announced as the National candidate for Rangitikei. The other candidates are Mr. Glenn (Government) and Mr. Duggan {Labour). WALLACE CONSTITUENCY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, Saturday. Mr. George Edie, proprietor of Birchwood estate, has decided to contest the Wallace electorate in the National Party's interests, hitherto represented by Mr. T. C. Thompson, who is retiring. THE ASHOURTON SEAT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASBOCL4TION.] ASHBURTON. Saturday. Mr. H. M. Jones who has previously contested the seat, announces himself as a candidate for Ashburton in the National Party's interests.