UNITED PARTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 8

UNITED PARTY

• CAUCUS IN WELLINGTON. MR JENKINS WITHDRAWS. By Telegraph.—Press .*A<u»ociatlon. WELLINGTON, February 21. A caucus of members of the United Party was. held at Parliament House this morning. The meeting was presided over by the deputy Leader of the Party, Hon. G. W. Forbes, in the absence of the Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward), who is still under health treatment at Rotorua. All members of the party were present except Sir Joseph Ward, Mr E. F. Healy (member for Wairau), who is undergoing treatment at Helensville following a breakdown in health; and the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. B. Cobbe), who is at present visiting Western Samoa. Member Withdraws. After he had made clear his future attitude towards the Party, declaring that henceforth he will be an Independent member in the House, with a reservation that he will at all times assist the Government to give effect to its policy as originally announced, Mr H. R. Jenkins, member for Parnell, withdrew from the meeting. Mr Jenkins considered that, in view of his changed attitude towards the Party, he should not sit and listen or take part in any way with the Party’s deliberations. Mr Fletcher Grey Lynn, accompanied by his benchmate in the House, Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), also left the meeting two or three minutes before the luncheon adjournment. The caucus continued in the afternoon. Confidence in Leader. At the conclusion of a very satisfactory meeting, during wihch the reorganisation of the Party was discussed, and a basis for future operations agreed upon, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “That this meeting of the United Party desires to express its sympathy to Sir Joseph Ward in his indisposition, and to record its pleasure at his continued improvement in health, and its best wishes for his speedy recovery. Further, it also desires to assure him of its entire confidence in him as Prime Minister, and as Leader of the Party.”

MR JENKINS EXPLAINS. RETURN TO TWO-PARTY SYSTEM DESIRED. UNITED-REFORM FUSION SUGGESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON. February 21. The critical attitude which the United Member for Parnell. Mr H. R. Jenkins, has adopted for «ome months past towards the administration of the Government culminated to-day in Mr Jenkins’s announcement at a party caucus that henceforth he may be regarded in the House of Representatives as an independent member. A statement in justification of his action was made by Mr Jenkins, after he had explained his position in the caucus in making his announcement, to a reporter. Mr Jenkins said he had hoped to make the first definition of the course he proposed to take at a meeting of his own electors, but this had not been possible, because he had had only two days’ notice of the caucus, at a time when he was recovering from indisposition. “I have received hundreds of congratulatory messages from all over New Zealand upoii the stand which I have taken in respect to the Party,” said Mr Jenkins, “and I am more convinced than ever that what I have done is right. I wish to announce that henceforth, and until such time as a fresh party formed embracing the best elements of the United and Reform parties, and possibly a few Labour members, which will bring the House back to the two-party system and avoid the country drifting to Socialism. I shall cast my lot with the Independents. I firmly believe this action which I am taking is for the best interests of the country, and my best judgment leads me to this decision.

“The Prime Minister definitely stated through the Press that he would attend to-day’s party conference, although many people thought that his health would not permit of his doing so. He has not attended, and although the deputy-Leader of the Party made excuses for the Prime Minister, my own opinion is ..that he was not in attendance owing to the condition of his health, and I believe that will be the opinion of the people of New Zealand. How can a sick man do justice to the many portfolios which Sir Joseph Ward holds? The responsibility of the Minister of Finance alone requires that he should, be a very fit and able man. The raising of money at 5h per cent, in New Zealand is sufficient indication to me,, either that he is not conversant with the position and the results which must ensue, or he is too sick to attend to his duties, leaving them to Departmental heads. As a party, we have denounced control of the country by Departmental heads, but what do we find to-day? They are in greater power possibly than ever. What with the Prime Minister in his poor state of health, and some Departments being under the control of inexperienced Ministers, I am of opinion that the winter we are facing will be one of the worst New Zealand has experienced for many years. Dear money has been caused, and the bank rate is being increased. We are faced with a slump in wool values, and wool-growers are not in a position to get ready and cheap finance from the banks, owing to the Government’s demands. I feel that the Government has not followed the land settlement policy laid down by members of the Party prior to the general election. They have devoted too much time in capital expenditure and purchase of large estates, and not sufficient time to the bringing in of unproductive Crown lands. They have progressed with a railway policy which is totally unpopular throughout the country, and are attempting to absorb unemployed labour on those works, instead of using them in connection with the breaking-in of undeveloped Crmvn iands. “Although sitting on the Independent benches,” said Mr Jenkins. “I will assist the Government at all times to carry out their policy as originally drafted, and I will remain Independent until such time as a good, strong two-party system can be evolved in the House. I am not desirous of expediting an election, for I feel the position would not be very materially altered one way or the other. lam of opinion that the three-party system has failed, and I am hopeful that through my attitude Refonn and United members be brought together.”

ANOTHER INDEPENDENT. STATEMENT ON UNEMPLOYMENT PROMISES. By Telegraph,-—Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 21. “I do not defeire any further invitation to party caucuses,” said Mr J. S. Fletcher tAuckland», after the proceedings to-day. Mi* Fletcher explained

that he had not severed all connection with the United Party, as he still upheld the ideals formulated at the conference of candidates. He had adhered to these ideals in his election campaign. His attitude, he said, was fully supported by all committees In his electorate. He was particularly supported in his stand regarding unemployment. His reasons for his stand were based on the failure of the Minister of Lands to put the Party’s land programme into operation, and disapproval of the continued purchase, of large estates at high prices; and the control of affairs by officials instead of by Ministers. He qlso objected to the Government’s policy in Samoa Mr Fletcher said the handling of. the unemployment problem was ‘'the' .* greatest cause of dissatisfaction. He proposed to make a comprehensive statement within a few days, giving his view’s on the tackling of thfe question.

MEASURES—NOT PARTY. MR WILKINSON’S STAND. By Telegraph—Association WELLINGTON, February 21.** “I am an Independent still, and w’ill consider every question upon its merits irrespective of party considerations, said Mr C. A. Wilkinson, member for Egmont, w r hen asked whether there was any truth in rumours that there , was a likelihood of his joining the United Party. “The state of health of the leader of the United Party is such that .the Government must be seriously weakened in administrative action, especially where important decisions regarding the welfare of the country have to be made. No one regrets Sir Joseph's state of health more than I do,” said Mr Wilkinson, “but it must be surely understood that the position of Prime Minister should be held by a man in a good state cf health, with a full supply of energj 7 . How Sir Joseph can look forwa.d to facing the next session I cannot understand. It is possible,-of course, that Sir Joseph may elect to represent New’ Zealand at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and thus escape to some extent the hard labour of the coming session. I feel that no one could do greater justice to New Zealand at the Conference than the right honourable gentleman. Apparently no change of Government can be made until the House decides, and then of course, there is always the possibility of an ' election. I am frankly in opposition to the Government on many questions, particularly in regard to its railway construction policy—a policy that is being pushed forward regardless of plain indications, not only in New Zealand, but all over the world, that railways are not w’hat they used to be, and that heavy losses are likely to continue, and actually increase. The South Island Main Trunk line, nowbeing pushed forw’ard. will, in my opinion, be a disastrous proposition.” The Samoan position is one that I cannot endorse. The present United Party policy in Samoa is strictly the policy of the Reform Party, and there is evidently a great deal too much militarism, both passive and active. Military men, in my opinion, should not be appointed as Administrators in Samoa.” Dealing with the land tax, Mr Wilkinson considered that the only proper and sensible method of taxation was to tax profits according to scale, when these profits were actually made and determined. “My view is that the land and all producing activities should be kept as free as possible from direct taxation. “When I see a party in sight with views corresponding with my ow*n. I will be only too ready to co-operate in the fullest possible way,” said Mr Wilkinson. For the present he could only co-operate in those measures he considered for the good of the country, no matter what party introduced them.