NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 32

NEW POLITICAL PARTY

BREAKAWAY FROM REFORM. A DOMINION ORGANISATION. AUCKLAND. August 18. For some days past rumours have been< prevalent in the city regarding a serious breakaway from the Reform Party and! the formation of’ a new political organisation to be recruited from the dissatisfied: supporters of the Ministerial party andi members of the Liberal Party. A meeting- was held last night, at which an executive was appointed, the person--nel of which will be announced in a day or two. Mr A. E. Davy, late organiser for the Reform Party, has accepted a. similar position with the new party, which, for the time being, will be known as theUnited New Zealand Party Political Organisation. The following report of the meeting referred to has been supplied by the organisers : — A large and enthusiastic meeting of representative citizens drawn from every shade of political opinion was held last evening, when it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the United New Zealand Party Political Organisation in Auckland. Prominent ex-officials of the Nationalist and Reform political organisations were included in the executive of the new movement. It was unanimously decided to invite Mr A. E. Davy to accept the position of Dominion organiser. The Convener, in opening the meeting, said that the faulty administration of the present Government was directly responsible for the formation of the organisation. Representative citizens right through the Dominion were so incensed at the attitude of the leaders |

and the legislation of the Reform Party' 1 that they had made up their minds that, < they would no longer tolerate it ; but 1 would -seek a remedy. They were also ' emphatically of the opinion that if the ■ _ present state of affairs was continued: * the people in desperation would, at the' * next election, place the Socialistic Labour Party on the Treasury benches. ' Fortunately, there were men of vision, courage, and ability who, recognising the danger, were prepared to initiate,, foster, and assist financially a scheme that would prevent such a disaster. This would mean the dismissal of the: present ruinous Administration and the substitution, without regard of party or' parliamentary experience, of a party which would indeed legislate in the best interests of al] sections of the community. The motion—“ That a branch of the United Now Zealand Party Organisation be established in Auckland’’—wascarried unanimously. Officers were elected and a provincial executive was set up. It was decided to publish fully the objects of the party, and invite moral and practical support from all sections: of the community. The office of the. organisation will be opened to-morrow, and those in sympathy with the league may enrol. It was decided to hold the next provincial council meeting when the organiser returned from the south. The Convener then proceeded to detail the various meetings that had been held in various- portions of the Dominion, and stated that sufficient finance; was assured to conduct' an intensive campaign on behalf of the organisation right up to -the 1928 elections. He further informed the meeting that, branches of the organisation would be formed immediately in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and a Do-; minion conference would be called; within a few weeks,, at which all centres would be represented.

REFORM MEMBERS INCREDULOUS. UNAWARE OF DEFECTIONS. WELLINGTON, August 18. The reported split in the Reform Party as suggested by a press message to-dav, was received with smiles of incredulity by members in close touch with the intimate affairs of the narty. Thev said to-night that they were unable to point to any single member of the party now in the House who would be a likely recruit for the new organisation, while they further asserted that if a cave were going to be formed there would have been definite signs of it some weeks ago. It was suggested that if the new party were on such a sound footing it was singular that the names of those at the head of it were not disclosed. “I do not know anything of it officially os unofficially,” said the Prime Minister (Mr ,1. G. Coates) when the message was referred to him.

SOLIDARITY OF REFORM. A LIBERAL-NATIONALIST MOVE. WELLINGTON. August 19. Mystery still surrounds the formation of the new Liberal-Rationalist-Reform Party and at present Mr Veitch, the member for Wanganui, is the only politician in the limelight. Mr Veitch to-day stated: “You may take it as quite certain that every effort that can be made by me has been, and will be, made to bring together all the people of moderate thought who have no faith, or who have-lost faith, in the pre? sent Government: I am convinced that there is a sufficient section of public opinion in this direction to- turn the present Government from office ; but it is at present only partly articulate, and not completely organised. My purpose is to create

an organisation that will bring them al together, so that they may use their political force collectively to re-establish the true principles of Liberalism and liberty which have been so flagrantly violated by Reform. That is the real purpose for which the Libera] revival is being carried on.’’ Mr Forbes, Leader of the Nationalists,, made the following statement: “I have, read with interest of the formation of a, new political organisation, said to be composed of men of all shades of political, thought, including supporters of the Reform, National, and Liberal Parties. I! welcome the movement, as it indicates that, in the opinion of those joining, I the time has come for action, as it is hopeless to look to the present Govern- I ment to provide a policy for the restoration of the progress and prosperity of the Dominion. It is very apparent that it isi the outcome of the general dissatisfaction with the Government that is felt throughout the Dominion, That that is held in: pronounced form by some sections of the; community is evidenced by the repeated' statements that one hears from prominent farmers and business men that they have so completely lost faith in the present Government that if there is no alternative offering they will vote for Labour. The seriousness of that position is evidently recognised by the new organisation, as it refers to it in its statement. The good times of the past bred an indifference to political questions and issues, and it is very encouraging to feel that now there, is some stirring in the dry bones < politics and a keener interest is being: taken in the public affairs of the Dominion. The National Party at the last election stood for the amalgamation of all those, irrespective of party, who stood for good government, and it has not in any way departed from that ideal, and it will . still work for that end. The late Mr:

Massey, when speaking in the Town Hall; in 1911, just before his party came into , power, said no party should remain in: office continuously for more than a very: few years. It was good for any Government to have before it all the time the fear that the other fellows might come along in a few months, or years, and have a look in the pigeon holes. The wisdom of these words was very clear to-day when applied to the present Government. Its 15 years of office have attached so many barnacles to the ship of State that all the way is lost, and at present it drifts with every current that flows.” So far as the Reform Party is concerned there are no malcontents. Mr Coates’s party is still solid. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) is still in the fold. Mr Potter (Roskill) also is sticking to Mr Coates. He says he has no association with the new party. He mentioned the names of: some outsiders who are endeavouring to establish it. They are Liberals —(“Oh, yes. I know they are,” declared Mr Potter, “but I can emphatically state that the Auckland suggestions that they constitute a. breakaway from the Reform Party are based on very slender grounds. So far as I am personally concerned, I have never left the party, and I know of no other members of the Reform party who have done so. It has been suggested, that we are after a new leader, but we are perfectly satisfied and firmly determined to adhere to the policy of the Reform Party and stand by Mr Coates. Yes, of course, I know who is in the new; party. They won’t disclose their names until they get some more important ones. If they can, however, it shows that once again the name of Liberalism will be changed.’’

A NEAT REJOINDER. LABOUR MEMBER DISCOMFITED. WELLINGTON, Augpst 19. Questions asked without notice in the House of Representatives are sometimes apt to react on the questioner in an altogether unexpected manner. This is what' happened to-day when Mr J. A. Lee, the Labour member for Auckland East, rose to put without due notice a question to the Prime Minister. Mr Lee said his question had to do with the formation of the new political party in Auckland.—(Laughter.) “Is it a matter of urgency’” Mr Speaker asked. “Yes, sir,” replied Mr Lee, whereupon there was further laughter. Then Mr Lee put his question to the Prime Minister as follows:—“Has the Prime Minister’s attention been drawn to a statement appearing in the Auckland papers that a new political party is to be formed and that it will be recruited from the Ministerial and Liberal ranks, and will he inform the House as to what Ministers have given notice of withdrawal from his Ministry?” “I do not know whether this is an urgent queston,” replied the Prime Minister, “but 1 can assure the honourable gentleman that it is useless for him to apply. There is no vacancy for him.’’ Mr Coates seemed serious and members laughed heartily at Mr Lee’s expense. It was a minute or so before decorum was restored, other members joining as heartily as Government members in the general laughter.

REVIVAL OF LIBERALISM. AN APPEAL TO DEMOCRACY. AUCKLAND, August 19. Dr W. H. Horton presided at a meeting of about 60 persons last night to unfurl officially the flag of Liberalism. He said that the decent people of NewZealand. who were becoming more and more dissatisfied with the policy and methods of the party in power, were combining to secure a Government expressing their aspirations. It was stated that no choice of a leader had yet been made. Mr Veitch had consented to act only temporarily, and Mr

Forbes had declined for the present to drop the Nationalist Party’s title. It was resolved—“ That it be a recommendation from this meeting to democratic representatives in Parliament to. use every endeavour to bring about the 1 union of >he democratic forces of this' country on a common policy.” MR GLENN’S ATTITUDE. Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), who re centlv caused- a little stir by resigning the: position of the Junior Whip of the Reform, Party, also denied any connection with: the new band. Mr Glenn has made a, show of his independence in the House, and he said to-night, in an interview,. “I am still on my own. This new thing; is just the Liberal crowd.”