The Press Wednesday, October 26, 1927. The New Political Party.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19141, 26 October 1927, Page 8

The Press Wednesday, October 26, 1927. The New Political Party.

Although the new political Party called the United New Zealand Political Party Organisation has been in the news for several weeks, has had sectional meetings, has held a national conference, and has had, according to its organiser, a most successful career, the public is still ignorant of the names of its executive and has not been allowed even a glimpse of its policy. The public* was told some time ago that its curiosity would be satisfied as soon as the national conference was held, but the conference is now some days old, and the veil has not been lifted. Nothing more lias been revealed than that the object of the Party is to •'link up the forces of those opposed "to the extreme Socialist Party and

" to the present Administration," and that "it was decided to open negotiations immediately with all groups, " organisations, or factions desiring "better government." As a rule a Party which has strong convictions and a firm purpose and a definite policy does not conceal from the public gaze its programme and its personnel, but those who are connected with this particular Party may have good reasons for their tardiness in declaring themselves, but they can know little of political psychology if they believe that the public will be favourably impressed by their reticence. However that may be, it is obvious enough for other reasons that the supporters of the movement have started off with the wrong foot. It is impossible to make a coherent or useful Party by mobilising "all groups, organisations, or factions "desiring better government," for this would be to mobilise cats and dogs, wolves and lambs, spiders and. flies. In every country-there are many "groups, " organisations, and factions- desiring "better government," but as a rule none of them means by " better govern"ment" what the others mean. It I might be possible to find amongst the groups which the new Party is canvassing some common political principle, although this is doubtful. But for every such common principle eacli group would cherish several others which would be disliked by the other groups. In any case it is hardly likely that the discontented groups would be united upon the principles the restoration of which are essential to the national welfare. It is essential to the national welfare that there should be a curtailment of the functions of the State, a reduction of the strength and powers of the Departments, and a direction of national policy towards the fostering of the primary industries. One cannot look to the Liberal or National Parties for any assistance in achieving these ends, arid we know of no group or organisation or faction that has made those ends its chief concern. There is room, and need, for a movement to further these ends, but that movement cannot take the form of an' organisation directed against the Reform Party. Any organisation which sets itself to oppose the Reform Party and the Socialists will be of no advantage to anyone but the Reds.