NATIONAL PARTY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 8

NATIONAL PARTY.

ANOTHER CHANGE OF NAME. STATEMENT BY MR FORBES. [THE PRESS Special Service] WELLINGTON, November 10. As a result of conferences in Wellington between the executive of the National Party and the United New Zealand Political Organisation (of which -Mr A. E. Davy is the organiser) an agreement has been reached for political co-operation, and it is intended immediately to commence organising and selecting candidates for the next election.

Statement by Mr Forbes. V? 1 " G ' r^V Forbe ». the leader of the NaUonar Party, m answer to an enquiry as to the connexion between his Partv and the Lnited New Zealand Political Organisation, made the following statement: — After several conferences with the executive of the United New Zealand Political Organisation, the National Party Jia» dedded to co-operate with the movement which has for its purpose the formation of a united political Party, which will comprise al! those sections of the community who are dissatisfied with the present Government, and are looking for an alternative. ' The National Party, in associating itself with the United Party, has done so in no selfish spirit, and seeks, as a Party, no advantage over any other organisation or political section that mav also decide to be similarly associated". It recognises that this new movement is composed of men of all shades of political thought, who are seriously concerned for the welfare of their country, which, in their opinion, is being seriously jeopardised by the policy and the administration of the Government. To bring about the desired change a Party considerable in numbers will be required, and it is only by the co-opera-tion of all the political Parties, "outside the Labour Party," opposed to the Government that this can be brought about, and it was with a sincere desire to assist in thaf direction that the National Party consented to be the nucleus for that combination.

Government Criticised. There is no doubt that the continuance of the present Government in office with its policy of drift and opportunism ■ is fraught with great danger to the Dominion. . The erratic nature of the Government's proposals has been* such as to undermine confidence, and the constant tinkering and tampering with legislation and the wholesale substitution of government by Order-in-Council instead of by statute law is causing great irritation and uncertainty in the minds of the community. The unnecessary hampering and restricting of and interference with, private enterprise and initiative, and the gradual encroachment of the State on the rights and privileges of citizens, are acting detrimentally to the progress and prosperity of the Dominion. The almost complete cessation of land settlement spells disaster at no distant date.

"Stirred to Action." In view of the foregoing it is not to be wondered at that many of the leading citizens of the Dominion have been stirred to political action, and _as they, through their new organisation, are moving in the right direction, we confidently ask our supporters throughout the country to assist in the creation of the necessary machinery to consolidate a strong united political Party with a progressive policy on sound constitutional lines.

interviewed to-day in reference to the eo-operation of the two Mr A. E. Davy, organiser of the United New Zealand Political 'Organisation, said it was quite true that an understanding had been arrived at between the two Parties named. "The whole weight of the organisation," he said, "will be placed behind the Parliamentary Party, but I want it clearly understood that this is the nucleus of a Parliamentary Party around which we are' confident in the near future will be built a strong United New Zealand Party."

Future Activities. In answer ,to a question as to the future activities of the organisation, Mr Davy said: "We intend immediately to commence work in the electorates throughout the Dominion. It is our intention to contest 1 every seat in the House at the next general election. Wc •have ararnged to meet and confer with, within the next fortnight, other groups who are opposed to the. present Administration, with a view to getting together and taking joint action. We have not officially invited any member of the Eeform Party in the" House to link up with us. We recognise that owing to their Party pledges it would be extremely difficult for them to break away just now, but we intend in the near future to invite certain members of that Party to link up with us. When that time' arrives those invited will no doubt answer for themselves." The movement is so far advanced that it is the Party's intention to take offices and locate their headquarters in Wellington forthwith.

Reply to Mr McLeod. Mr Davy was askod if he had any statement to make in reply to remarks recently made by the Hon. Mr McLeod, vice-president and chairman of the Eeform League. Mr Davy laughingly replied that Mr McLeod reminded him of the garrulous old lady who always prefaced her remarks by "if I was a woman as talked." in his statement Mr McLeod' made reference to "ten, or is it twenty Eeform supporters in Parliament being ready and anxiouß to desert to the renegade standard the moment it is set up, is mere fudge. I had considerable experience in political matters for a number of years, and I have never known of a Party with a majority such as Eeform is holding at the present time, displaying to its leader the same high degree of loyalty as the present Eeform supporters are showing to the Prime Minister." "I will not," said Mr Davy, "comment on that statement any further than to say that if Mr McLeod has the long political experience that he speaks of he should be chary of talking of renegade movements, and of making a positive statement of the absurd kind just quoted. "Further, in his statement Mr McLeod went on to say, 'I have in my possession what I believe to be a fairly correct list of those who have attended Mr Davy's several meetings, and also the'names of those who have taken anything approaching a prominent part in the movement. Very few of the number can be claimed as deserters from the Eeform banner, although I admit that several have supported our candidates for the past two or three elections. In the main, however, thev are ex-Liberals or belong to a group of individuals, who, for reasons which are personal, rather than altruistic, have no abiding place politically and who, like the lions of Biblical history, move up and down the land seeking whom they may devour.'

"Unfair and Inaccurate." "This statement is unfair and inaocnrate," declared Mr Dary, "unfair

because Mr McLeod must know that I have the lists of the Reform supporters, financial and otherwise, but which as an honourable man I cannot make public or comment upon. Mr McLeod's statement is inaccurate for the reason that the members of our organisation are fifty-fifty, ex-Liberals and ex-Re-form. I take strong exception to his insulting reference to the personnel of our organisation and would ask Mr McLeod if the ex-Beformers referred to are the type of men he describes, why did many of them hold high positions in the Eeform movement for many years and until the last general election? I would further point out to Mr McLeod that the gentlemen to whom he has referred so slightingly have for years past subscribed to and assisted the Eeform Party without wish for, or hope of reward, and it ill becomes one holding high office in the Party to attempt to belittle them. Knowing the personnel of both the Beform League and the united organisation, I claim that if both lists were published the members of the latter would have nothing to lose by comparison,"