NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 10 September 1923, Page 3

NEW POLITICAL PARTY

MS HOWARD BLLIO.TT’S VIEWS Hint.'i that ‘ a new political party is about to bo born in New Zealand were given by the Rev. Howard Elliott (Dominion organiser of the Protestant Political Association) in.the course of an address at New Plymouth. He indicated further that, although the / to P.P.A. did not at this juncture intend to take part in the movement, yet when the time was deemed ripe it would do so with all heartiness.

“Mr Massey has a majority —on paper," said Mr Elliott, “but there arc signs of disintegration in his party." , Recent legislation might weaken confidence in the Reform Party, especially when people made applications for 95 per cent advances for building houses and were refused. The P.P.A. had been accused of being a Reform institution. That charge was not true. Not a copper of the Reform Party’s funds went into the P.P.A. coffers, and Mr Massey certainly had no influence in P.P.A. councils or a voice in P.P.A. deliberations.

Turning to the Liberal Party, Mr Elliott said that no one really anticipated the day when Mr T. M. Wilford would be Premier of New Zealand. Mr Wilford reminded the speaker of the brigand in “The Maid of the Mountains/’ who, in the early scenes, strode imperiously round the stage, but who, in the end, proved to be a very harmless gentleman indeed. Mr Wilford was a very good actor, a fine criminal lawyer, a failure as a party leader, and he would be an absolute fiasco as a Premier. The Labour Party, led by men of, the type of Messrs Holland and Fraser, was, of course, hopeless. ‘‘ I believe there is a possibility of a new party arising under new leadership, ’ ’ said Mr Elliott. There were men whoso names were well known all overNcw Zealand who were being discussed as prospective candidates under the new party. He assured his audience that the P.P.A. would make its weight felt when the hour arrived.