ANOTHER PARTY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 June 1930, Page 3

ANOTHER PARTY

CHRISTCHURCH AGAIN. “INDEPENDENT REFORM.” According to the Christchurch Times, an announcement was made on Monday last that steps are being taken to form a new political body in Christchurch to be known as the Independent Reform Association. Mr. P. Perrin was named as the organiser, and the main planks of the new association’s policy were given. The announcement stated that for some years past there had been dissatisfaction in the Reform ranks at the manner in which those responsible for the administration of the Reform Party have departed from the objects, ideals and planks of the party. The last election had given voice to the general dissatisfaction in no uncertain manner. The following planks were put forward by the new organisation: — The abolition of the land tax and the substitution of income tax, as soon as possible. ... Repeal of the compulsory clauses in various control Acts. Curtailment of the Public Service. Governing of the country by Parliament, and not by the Public Service. Annulment of all Orders-in-Council unless confirmed by Parliament within six weeks of the opening of the House. Encouragement- of private enterprise; the abolition of the Board of Trade Act. Revision of the Arbitration Act. Reduction of taxation by economies and efficiency in the Civil Service, by the encouragement of individualism and by calling a halt in the extension of public social services. In political circles in Wellington there is, states the Evening Post, a disinclination to take the announcement from Christchurch seriously. It is pointed out that attempts have previously been made to form new parties, not only in Christchurch, but in other parts of. the Dominion, but they have all met with the same fate. ’Certainly, the United Party was a new organisation, but it really grew out of the old Liberal and National Parties.

Christchurch has rather a reputation in the mattey of new parties. In February of this year an announcement was made that a new party, to be known as the New Zealand Independent Labour Party (Incorporated) and the New Zea; land Women’s Moderate Political Party, with headquarters at Christchurch, had been formed, and that an announcement as to the personnel of the committee would be made “in the course of a few days.” As far as it is possible to ascertain, nothing further has been heard of the netv party. Some time ago it was also reported that a Junior Labour League was being formed in ChristchurcK on the lines of the Junior Reform League. A recent suggestion from Dunedin that a new party was being formed under the leadership of the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Sir Charles Statham) was categorically denied by Sir Charles, and no more has been heard of the Taranaki suggestion of a new party consisting of defections from the United Party ranks, and possibly, in a smaller degree, from the ranks of the other parties.