THE REFORM PARTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20781, 29 July 1929, Page 10

THE REFORM PARTY.

REORGANISATION RUMOUR. EMPHATIC BY LEADER. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, July 27. It was reported in Auckland yesterday that there was a movement to break up the Reform Party and form a new party. Sir James Parr was mentioned as the now party’s leader. “ You may look for such rumours,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) this morning Mr Coates said that the rumour was unfounded and that its source was unknown. The parliamentary representatives of the Reform Party were sound and' loya , and he felt that it was regrettable that Sir James Parrs name should he bandied around while that gentleman was absent from the country on important work.

STATEMENT BY MR WAITE. ENTIRE CONFIDENCE IN MR COATES. Speaking to a representative of the Daily Times last evening on the subject of this rumour, Mr F. Waite, M.P. for Clutha. stated that the present reports were the first he had heard of the matter in any shape or form. There was not a particle of truth in the suggestion that any reorganisation of the Reform Party was contemplated or that he was associated with shch a movement. Mr Coates enjoyed the complete confidence of every member of the Reform Party. Moreover, there was no need to change the name of the party,' for in three years’ time all those people who had to pay taxes of any kind would be demanding reform in many directions. ' 1 have attended many party meetings during the past four weeks,” continued Mr, Waite, “ and I have never heard a whisper of complaint against Mr Coates. On the contrary, he is more securely entrenched in the esteem of his fellow members than at any previous time.' When Mr Coates’s opponents stoop to the circulation of rubbish of this kind they must still he a little afraid of the Leader of the Opposition. I. for one. am proud to serve with and under one of the most able administrators that this country has ever had. I said~so during the election, and I repeat it now.”