AT DAGGERS DRAWN.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17386, 24 April 1928, Page 8

AT DAGGERS DRAWN.

P.P.A. AND REFORM.

ANTAGONISM TO MR COATES.

A SENSATIONAL MANIFESTO. A quarrel of the bitterest type, calculated to affect the Reform Party materially, has taken place between the Reform League and the Protestant Political Association. Secret manifestoes issued by both sides reveal that Ihey arc at daggers drawn. "During the past, ten years the .P.P.A. has. in measurable degree, assisted to return members of your party to Parliament at a heavy cost of money, time and effort," states the circular by the P.P.A. to Reform members of Parliament in explanation of its right to address them. "There arc members of the parly who were first brought into political life by this association. You are aware that there is general dissatisfaction with the party and its leadership.

Sensational Manifesto

"We have been impressed by the number of individuals who have been supporters of the association and also of the Reform Party for years who have firmly declined to contribute to the funds or the association as they have done unless an express guarantee is given that the association will .not support the Reform Party under its present leader. This is as true in Duncdin as in Auckland, in the towns and cities as in the country. . . The individual members of the •Reform Party share the responsibility for, and must be affected by the dissatisfaction and distrust, not to say open antagonism, which exists. They will experience the consequences and it is therefore in your interest that the position be fully considered. It would be no difficult task to set out at length the reasons for our dissatisfaction. The Reform Party was elected as an anti-Socialist party. Our association carries on a constant propaganda against. Socialism, hut the Reform Party has enacted legislation, e.g.. bus legislation, which the Socialists could not have excelled. This legislation has prejudicially affected and antagonised the great middle, class, and has had a serious effect throughout our membership.. .

The second reason is the increasing expenditure and consequently increasing taxation. The financial difficulties through which the people have been passing have not actuated the Government to lessen the high public expenditure. Rather, '.t has been increased. . . New Zealand taxation is in excess of the combined Australian taxation. As an association we are convinced that the leader of the Reform Party, unlike his honoured predecessor, if not openly antagonistic, is passively hostile." . . . . The manifesto then declares that undue preference is being shown to the Roman Catholic Church in educational matters, and also in appointments to the Public Service. Reform's Rejoinder. Mr E. A. James says it exhibits such a pronounced bias against, the Prime Minister that he feels it necessary to address them on the subject. "Of late months." he says, "a pronounced set has been made against Mr Coates by our political opponents, and by the organiser of the so-called United Party, who. after deserting the Reform Party, with whom he had no legitimate cause for grievance, openly avowed his intention of forcing the heads of the Reform organisation out of political life." Mr James says he is not aware how far those Prohibitionists who are working against the Reform Party are responsible for the campaign of slander against Mr Coates, but he is convinced that if they are successful in their attempt to make Mr Coates' continuance in office impossible they will administer the severest blow to the Reform cause that it is possible for any political party to inflict upon another, and will hand the Government over to the Red Fed element, which they declare they are so anxious to keep out of office. ' He characterises the P.P.A. circular as a most mischievous document intended to breed suspicion and bring about disruption in the ranks of the Reform Party. r i-"rfe claim of the P.P.A. to have assisted to return members of the Reform Party is seriously discounted by the action of the association in helping to discredit and defeat Reform candidates, of which instances are quoted. In reference to the alleged Socialistic trend of the Reform Party's legislation, the claim that the party was elected as an antiSocialist party and the claim that the P.P.A. carries on constant propaganda aaginst Socialism and' Communism,, Mr James says that neither statement is strictly in accordance with fact. It is generally admitted that it was the "Coates Wave" that brought the Reform Party back to power in 1927) with such a big majority. The, references to the preference accorded the Roman Catholics are confuted. -