POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18759, 12 January 1923, Page 6

POLITICAL SITUATION

THE REFORM PARTY. SUCCESSFUL CAUCUS MEETING. (Pan United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 11. The first post-election meeting' of the Reform members of the new Parliament was hold in Parliament Buildings to-day, occupying the whole of the afternoon. The caucus was a great success, stated the Prime Minister afterwards. The party consists of 38 members, and of these 35 were present, and the otlier three were duly accounted for. Those, absent were Messrs W. I). Lysnur (Gisborne), Tan Henare (Northern Maori), and William Uru (Southern Maori). Mr Lysnur would have had to leave Gisborne lost Friday in order to be present, and he could not got back fill next Saturday night, except by undertaking an expensive special motor journey. All the absent members sent suitable messages, which the Prime Minister read to the meeting. Mr Uru is ill in Christchurch Hospital, and Mr Tau Henare was unavoidably detained in Auckland. Mr Lysnar was excused from attendance on account of the length of time ho would have had to be away from his home and business. The meeting unanimously agreed tp the following resolution: —

1. That the parliamentary members of the Reform Party, while regretting that the party was not returned with greater strength, are not in the least discouraged, and intend doing their duty as before in Parliament and out of it on the lines which ■will best promote the prosperity and general interests of the country.

2. They desire to express their appreciation of tiie fact that at the 1922 elections the electors supported the Reform candidates with nearly 73,000 votes more than at the previous elections in 1919, while the increased vote for the Liberal candidates yvas 10,999 and for Labour 11,723. 3. The most important question at issue tinder the existing circumstances is whether the doctrine of Revolutionary Socialism should be tolerated in Now Zealand, and this conference is of the opinion that giving effect to, or even attempting to give effect to any such doctrine or policy, would be disastrous to the country, and should be resisted by every constitutional means in the power of right thinking citizens. In view of recent happenings, this conference is of the opinion that the lino of political demarcation in this country should be between those citizens who, on one hand, believe in progressive, enlightened, and constitutional democracy and, on the other hand, those who favour a policy of communism or extreme socialism. This conference is also of tho opinion that the threeparty system leads to instability of government at a time' when a strong, stable Government is urgently necessary.

5. This conference desires to state its conviction that the Reform Party has everything to gain by a further appeal to tho country, but it hopes that another general election may be avoided, at all events, until the financial position becomes more definitely assured and tho depression has quite passed away, and it will welcome any equitable arrangement by which those members, of Parliament who are opposed to communism may bo brought together with the object of expediting the country’s business and l keeping in cheek any section which favours principles subversive of the best interests of the dominion.

6. This conference, recognising the Prime Minister's long and honourable political record, expresses its continued loyalty to him. and the members pledge themselves to stand by him in his endeavour to carry on the affairs of the country, believing him to bo at tho present time the man best fitted for tho position.

EXCHANGE OF DETECTIVES

NEW SOUTH WALES PROPOSAL. OPPOSED BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE. (Pee United Peess Association.) WELLINGTON, January 11. The proposal of the New South Wales Police Department for an exchange of detectives between Australia and New Zealand, as recently outlined in a cable message, was referred to to-day by tho Minister of Justice, tho Hon. E. P. Lee. “New Zealand is peculiarly situated,” said Mr Lee, “having four centres as compared with on© in most of_ the Australian States. To he of any practical value, if tho proposed system wore established, it would mean that four detectives from New Zealond —one from each centre—would have to go to each of the Australian States, and tho number required for that purpose would bo 24. Similarly four detectives would bo required from each State in Australia for duty here, so that the expenses of these 24 men, amounting to £4OCO per year, would have to be paid by the Police Department. In addition, tho permanent strength of the detective branch would have to Ix 3 considerably increased. It is true that an interchange of detectives might be of some us© to the Now Zealand force, and probably of much more use to th© police of the Australian States, but I do not think the advantage to this dominion would bo sufficient to justify the largo expenditure involved and th© disorganisation of tho detective branch that would bo th© result of constantly changing stations.” “AN EXCELLENT SCHEME.”

DETECTIVE CASSELLS’S VIEWS. (From One Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH. January 11. A message was cabledl from Australia the other day embodying a suggestion that there should be an, interchange of detectives between Australia and New Zealand. “The advantage of this arrangement,” said Inspector Cassells to a Sun representative to-day, “is fairly obvious, and I think the scheme an excellent one. When in Sydney two years ago I saw on numerous occasions some of our worst criminals who wore working there without being known to the New South "Wales police. I saw one man who ■was an expert at blowing safes open, and who was also a notorious pickpocket. I happened to be going out to the Kensington races, and saw this fellow entering an hotel. That evening I informed an Australian detective of the fact, and together we went to the hotel. After waiting an hour our friend, the safe blower, arrived, and ■without letting him see me I pointed him out to the Sydney man. Shortly after I left Sydney, I understand, tin's man was apprehended for blowing a safe, and was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. “Twenty odd years ago there was a gang of pickpockets which used to come to Christchurch for the August and November race meetings. They were Australians, and unknown to the New Zealand police. The re suit was that there were numerous cases of pockets being picked, and of course there ■was no ohanco of effecting arrests unless one of tho men was caught red-handed This happened at Addington one day, and the “crook’s” finger-prints wore taken and forwarded to Australia. It was found later that the offender was one of the most notorious pickpockets in the commonwealth. “There was another Australian gang of thieves which worked right through tho dominion picking pockets right and left. One of the gang went to tho Bank of New Zealand in Wellington one day. An old 'Government messenger was paying in a sum of money which was in a handbag. While he was filling in the bank form, the crim ipal pickeS up the bag_ and walked out of the building. The police were unable to locate him. Some time later, in Australia, a detective mentioned the incident to mo, and asked, ‘Would you like to see the man who did it?’ Ho was able to point him out to me.

“ I don’t believe in shovelling our criminals into Australia. I don’t think that the Australians shovel their criminals into New Zealand. Australian detectives have told me that New Zealand ‘crooks’ can hold their own with any in tho commonwealth I remember the case of one of the worst criminals in Now Zealand, a man who would shoot on sight, and who always carried a revolver. He was arrested while sitting in a barber’s chair. Ho received a 10 years’ sentence for dynamiting a safe, but at the end of five years ho was released and shipped away, I think to Australia. The permit system was not in vogue then, and J certainly do not think it is fair that this class of man should ever be cent away to another country. I consider that none of our Now .Zealand ‘crooks’ should be allowed to go to a country whore they are not known. While _in Now Zealand they are under observation, and wo can keep them in hand. If they are allowed to go to Australia it is scarcely fair to the police there. ”