REFORM PARTY OUTLOOK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 12

REFORM PARTY OUTLOOK

MR. COATES' CONFIDENCE. SOLIDARITY SINCE DEFEAT. . "MORE COMPACT THAN EVER." | [uy telegraph.—own con respondent.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. ; The loyalty shown by members of tho i Reform Party sirico its defeat at tho gen- [ eral election nearly two years ago was commended by tho Leader of. tho Opposii lion, tho Pvt. Hon. J. G. Coatcs, in an address at the opening of tho Reform i Club to-day. Mr. Coatcs expressed tho opinion that the party would fight tho next election campaign moro united and i moro compact than ever before. Mr. Coatcs said tho occasion afforded him an opportunity of expressing a sentiment which he had long wanted to express to a representative gathering of Reformers. In his judgment tho Reform Party had never proved itself so loyal, staunch and solid as during the two years that had elapsed since it suffered defeat at tho polls. 110 appreciated tho extraordinary loyalty displayed by members throughout the country. After all, tho real test of whether a party was weak or strong was when it was defeated at the polls. It was said with much truth that a characteristic of the British people was that they showed up best when things were not going well. That was so in politics just as in war. Never were members more interested in the welfare of tho party or more ready to get behind it and sec that its candidates got a good run at the next election. From tho time of tho party's defeat Ihcro had been solidarity and unanimity on tho part of Reform members both insido arid outside Parliament. It was truo that tho parly had lost one member. There was the question of principle, and if a member did not believe in what tho party subscribed to, then it was better for that member and everyone concerned that ho should follow whither his inclinations led him. " J am satisfied," added Mr. Coatcs, that we are starting tho campaign leading up to tho next general election moro united, more compact, with greater respect for one another and greater confidence in ono another, with more loyalty to our party and moio realisation of our responsibilities and duty to tho party and to ono another than ever beforo. A reverse such as wo suffered at tho polls in 1928 has at least this one good result: It enables us to know who are our real friends.". OPENING OF NEW CLUB. IDEALS OF THE PARTY. [jlY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. '1 ho Reform Club, at tho corner of Fcatfierston and Panama Streets, was officially opened by the Leader of tho Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, this afternoon. Tho chairman of tho foundation committee, Mr. If. F. Johnstone, K.C., presided. "This club will provide the moans by which we can meet and discuss intimately those important questions that affect us individually," said Mr. Coates. "From this club declarations can bo made that represent the views of the Reform Party, views which wq think in tho best interests "'of tho country d.3 a 'whole and not in the interests of any particular section of the community." "Wo recognise that tho prosperity of tho community as a whole depends in the last analysis always upon tho welfare and prosperity of tho farmers and other primary producers, and tho Reform Party therefore gives its first attention to tho needs of tho primary producers. Rut, subject to this, wo of tho Reform Party do endeavour to give a square deal to ail classes alike. "In this club," said Mr. Coatcs, "we want to find tho farmer discussing his problems with the city business man, wo want to find the young Reformer keeping tho older members of our party in touch with tho outlook of tho newer generation. It will provide a common meeting ground for members of tho party in all classes of society." Mr. Coates then declared the club open, and at his instigation three hearty cheers were given for the founders.