POLITICAL

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6603, 23 May 1925, Page 5

POLITICAL

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM WANTED

A MEMBER’S OPINION

Questioned by a Star reporter regarding the political position, Mr Allan Bell, M.P. (Bay of Islands), said that at the present time the whole thing was in the lap of the gods, but he felt sure that the people from the North Cape to the Bluff were heartily sick of the useless three-party system. In his opinion there were only two courses open: (a) The construction of a new National party, composed of the best elements of the Reform and Liberal parties, (b) The formation qf a National party by the new Prime Minister when he was selected on May 27, a party with a new and up-to-date policy that would appeal to the advanced political thought of the day, a policy that would provide for putting into operation the splendid land settlement legislation at present on our Statute Book, especially the homestead system, and the subdivision of large holdings; a more advanced policy for public works and farmers’ finance and the reorganisation of the Public Service on lines of greater economy and efficiency, provision .being made to allow the best man to reach, the top irrespective of age or years of service.

In Mr Bell’s opinion one of the greatest wants of the Dominion today was suitable people to occupy the land, and with this end in view -he strongly advocated increased assistance being given to the British small farmer and farm labourer to migrate to these shores.

Questioned as to who the new. Prime Minister would be Mr Bell said that he had no idea, but he could say that a lot of the criticism that was being levelled against the Hon. J. G. Coates as to his want of stability was entirely wrong. Mr Coates was an* energetic and fearless man, one who was not bound hand and foot by old arid useless political traditions, and he felt sure that if he were selected he would fill the position with honour to the Dominion and himself. Concluding, Mr Bell said that the people had to realise that the great political fight in the future would be between the forces of Communism and those of sanity. The sooner they realised this and returned to the two-party system the better for the Dominion and the Empire.