A NEW PARTY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 61, 5 December 1917, Page 6

A NEW PARTY

NEW ZEALAND POLITICAL LEAGUE

INITIAL MEETING

A meeting called by the promoters of "The New Zealand Political League" was held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. The Rev. W. A. Evans was in, the chair, and about fifty persons Were present. The proceedings were opened with the National Anthem. The chairman said the meeting had been convened for the purpose of inaugurating a now movement towards a sano and mutually beneficial understanding between the different sections of the community. The new party had been formed already, and provisional officers bad been elected. It was not the intention of the party to harass the National Government in any, way during the period of the war, but the party had ideals of social effort for the period following the war. Mr. Evans proceeded to argue that the existing economic, political, and industrial systems had grave weaknesses. The party was to be called "The New Zealand Political League." Mr. H. A. Parkinson said that very many people wore convinced that a new partv would be needed in the reconstruction period, in order that the social\affairs of the Dominion might be placed upon an improved footing and an end made of the class quarrels and social injustices that were threatening the welfare of the nation. The league would seek to obliterate the rigid lines of party. Its' promoters hoped that the old party warfare, at present in suspense, would not bo revived in the days of peace. They had formulated a set of guiding principles, such as: "Tho true object of government is tho development of citizenship," and had framed a provisional platform, which included improved education, suppression of harmful .trade, combinations, encouragement of _ copartnership, universal State pensions, improved housing, land settjoment, and proportional representation ._ The league would represent the interests of the great middle- partv, which did not wish to ioin either the capitalists or the Red Feds. It would be a channel for the expression of moderate, reasonable opinion, and a means for the creation" of a united democracy. It believed that the interests of Capital and Labour were mutually dependent, and tho State should be' directly associated with these interests. Mr. Parkinson proceeded to quote _ arguments in favour of co-partnership. Mr. AV. Barr expressed approval of the British Constitution and a desire to assist in lifting political life to a higher plane. He said that democracy should be the combined intelligence of tho nation applied to itself, i Classes would always exist, but they were inter-denondent and need not be antagonistic. 'Mr. Barr mentioned' that the New Zealand people were the most intelligent and moral on the face of the earth, ar.d so ought to set a. good Bxample of political efficiency. Mr. John Bigg said the league was not in anv way opposed to the Labour Partv. He honed that later it would Amalgamate with the Labour Party mid make that organisation the strongest in New Zealand. The leasue s nlatForm was the platform of tho Labour Representation Committee. Mr. Bigg, like the other speakers, was interrupted occasionally by members of the audience, the interjections indicating a belief that the league was anti-Labour in its tendencies. In the course of some further remarks, Mr. Rigg said the league was not going to fight for office.. It was formed in the interests of the people. A voice: So ; s the Labour Party.Mr. Rigg: We are on the same lines as tho Labour Parts'. A voice: Then why try to make a split if there is not one? Mr. Rigg said that the extremist and revolutionary element in the present Labour Party was keeping very many people out of it. He advocated proportional representation, with a general election at tho end of next year. The people were entitled to a reduction in the cost of living, which was substantially higher in New Zealand than in Australia. If the democrats of the Dominion co-operated' along political lines they could effect great reforms. In answer to a question, Mr. Uarr said he was the Mr. Barr who had announced his intention of challenging the validity of the early closing law in the Supreme Court; Mr Parkinson said the league know nothing of this; it was purely Mr. Bnrr's. affair; Mr. Barr said he was not employau by the liquor trade. He was quite independent, but believed Prohibition to be impracticable. ■ Other questions raised the point whether the league would accept Lahoui nominees in Parliamentary elections 01 would make nominations of its own. Mr. Rigg said the league would hav< power to nominate its own candidates The matter would be one for negotiation. The meeting then closed.