REVIVAL OF LIBERALISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 50

REVIVAL OF LIBERALISM.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. DRAWING UP NEW CONSTITUTION. WELLINGTON, August 2. A conference of those interested in the revival of the New Zealand Liberal Party, which was -called by Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P. for Wanganui, took place to-day. There was an atter dance of about 20. The proceedings were not open to the press, but when the adjournment was taken at 1 o’clock this afternoon, after a sitting of two hours. Mr Veitch, who was elected to the chair, made a brief statement. “The conference,” Mr Veitch said, “is a thoroughly representative one, and I am highly pleared at the response made to my invitation to be present. There is a great deal of business to be done, and all I can say at present is that the conference is proceeding along very satisfactory lines.” The conference is meeting again at 3.30 p.in., and it is doubtful whether it will be possible to put through all the business to-day. It is understood that Mr Veitch is the only member of Parliament present at the conference. Those present include Mr S. G. Smith. ex-M.P. for Taranaki, and Air A. B. Sievwright, who contested the Wellington South seat iu tne interests of the Nationalist Party at the last general election.

The principal business of the conference, it is stated, will be the drawing up of a constitution, am’ it is understood that a special committee was set up this morning to go into this question.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH NATIONALISTS. WELLINGTON. August 3. Negotiations are -proceeding for a reunion of the Nationalist and Liberal forces in the House of Representatives, according to a brief statement made this evening by the Leader of the Nationalist Party (Air G. W. Forbes). Concurrent with this came an announcement, that by Air W. A. Veitch (Leader of the new Liberal Party) that the revived Liberal Party, following a two-days’ conference, must now be considered a potent political force. The new Liberals have been in close conference in Wellington during the past two days, delegates, according to an official statement issued to-night, being present from every provincial district in the Dominion. Among the delegates were ex-members of Parliament who contested the last election under the Nationalist banner.

The report says that the advice from the various district organisations was to the effect that the party membership was steadily growing. A constitution was drafted and adopted by the conference, which also made arrangements to build up the district executives and co-ordinate the branches through a central executive, with headquarters in Wellington. Schemes for further constructive work and propaganda were formulated which it was held would give an added stimulus to the work of the branch organisations.

Commenting .on the conference, Air Veitch said the response was greater than he had anticipated, and the unanimity of opinion on the items discussed indicated that the expected universal return to Liberalism was fully justified. He had never attended a more earnest gathering or one where there had been displayed such enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility. He was quite sure that the revived Liberal Party must now be reckoned as a potent force in the political lite of the Dominion.

Air Forbes handed the following statement to the press to-night:—“Several conferences have taken place between the Nationalist Party and the Liberal Party, and negotiations are proceeding for a reunion of the forces.”

Interviewed. Air Forbes declined to ampiiy the official announcement, and could give no indication as to when a more definite announcement regarding the results could be made. He had no comment to pass on the conference of the Liberal interests which has been held. He added, however, that the next conference would probably produce tangible results.

AIR VEITCH INTERVIEWED. WELLINGTON, August 4. I here have been no further developments with the Nationalist-Liberal movement for amalgamation. Air W. A. Veitch (chairman of the Liberal Conference) stated to-day that he had nothing to add to the brief announcement made by Air G. W. Forbes (Loader of the Nationalists), except to confirm it. The member for Wanganui was asked if the report wore correct that the Liberal Conference had commenced to prepare a political policy, and he admitted that this was the case. “The nucleus of a policy has already been. adopted, and is in process of revision. ’ho said “At the moment it is neither complete nor perfect, but it is the result of earnest consideration of the situation by men impressed with a profound sense of their responsibility. The real impulse in the conference was the realisation of the fact that the breakdown of Reform s agrarian policy has proved a great disaster to the country, and is now beginning to be felt very seriously by everybody, not only the farming community, hut the commercial community are deeply impressed with the seriousness of that fact. Reform's administrative practice of what I call borrow, squander, and tax is adding seriously to the country's difficulties, resulting from the breakdown of the agrarian policy. That is a brief scientific analysis not only of the mind of the conference, but of the political situation in Now Zealand. It is the whole story in a few words. The position cap be relieved only by earnest, honest, and [ believe courageous men. anxious to render the best service that a political party can give.”