A NEW PARTY

Otago Witness, Issue 3385, 29 January 1919, Page 24

A NEW PARTY

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 22. Yet another attempt is being made in Wellington to form a new party. Some montlis ago a coterie of men had sonic meetings and formulated a policy, but they have a membership of only about 40, and not one of the 40 would be considered a man of any weight. This other attempt seems to be something a little more ambitious, but it will be surprising if anything comes of it. They have drafted a platform which is radical in character, but it does not contain a new idea, and even the old phraseology is observed in dealing with such matters as land, finance, education, and industry. The platform is of almost oracular vagueness, if reports are true. For the present, nono of the precious documents are in. circulation, and the organisation has met only in camera. It appears that three or four people conceived the idea of getting a meeting by invitation, and some of those who camo along did so under a misapprehension as to the character and purpose of the meeting. They agreed with very little of what was being said, and most of them took no part in the proceedings. Some of those present did venture the suggestion that instead of splitting votes further by the formation of a new party, an endeavour sh6uld be made to unite the other two parties, but the reply Was that both Mr Massoy's and Sir Joseph Ward's parties were moribund.

There is a strong feeling in Wellington amondi members of both parties that union is necessary if the Bolshevists are to bo beaten as derisively as they ought to be at next elections, but the people who think like this would be the last to join any new organisation with a rough-hewn constitution. The new party, by the way, thinks of oalling itself the 'National Democratic Party." More alarming is the news that goes round of disaffection among members of the Reform Party in the House. It is said tliat some of the more ambitious, and some of the other members who, for other reasons, have been displeased with the Government for some time, now think that tho party ought to be remodelled. Some of them, it is said, could even bear to lose Mr Massoy out of the party, and they would insist on the retirement of practically all of the present Reform Ministers. Little is known about what is being done, but there is no doubt that a little of the party discontent has been finding expression in some sort of action quite recently. The alleged new party will probably canvass the present members, but it is not likely that such a canvass would be taken seriously by men who know something of the working of the parliamentary machine.

ASSURED OF A STRONG BACKING (Fkois Oob Own CoiiHxapoKDKNr.)

AUCKLAND, January 24. Two northern members of Parliament have supplied tho Herald with the following statement regarding the proposed new political party :—" There is a movement amongst members of Parliament to create a new progressive party to fight the next elections. The movement, which has the support of members from various Darts of the dominion, springs from a feeling that the National Government, now that the war is over, has finished its work, and should make way for a more energetic Administration. Its lack of initiative and driving force had given great dissatisfaction.

" There is also a desire to get away from the old parties, with their past traditions and out-of-date battle cries. Sound Liberalism, with business efficiency and a large development policy, will count with the new party for more than mere party considerations, which, it is considered, have too long dominated the dominion's affairs. " The members concerned, out of a spirit of loyalty to the absent political leaders, are not likely to do anything to disturb the existing party truce until June next, when it is expected Parliament will meet; but it is very probable that at the general election there will be a solid independent new party to go to the country. It is already certain that the new party will have a strong backing."