PARTY CLEAVAGE DENIED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 144, 6 July 1937, Page 5

PARTY CLEAVAGE DENIED

-Prese AssociationA

■ • ♦ # V National Interests in the South

OLD LIBERALS MEET

(By Telegraph-

DUNEDIN, Last Night. A denial that there was any eugges* tion of antagonism to the National Party in the attitude adopted by a certain section of the old Liberal Party in Dunedin, was given to-day by men who last week attended a meeting of liberals at which the preseut political situation was discussed. This meeting, it was stated, was merely a gathering of f riends interested in the liberal viewpoint, at which it was agreed that the measure of support to be accorded by them to the National Party should depend on the extent to which the liberal viewpoint was reflected in that party 's policy. The hope was expressed on that oucasion that there would be nothing in the National Party's policy which would render a breakaway by the liberals desirable. The meeting, which was attended by fewer than 12 persons, was presided over by Mr. W. B. Taverner, former member for Dunedin. South, who was Minister of Railways in the first United Cabinet. Referring to the meeting tonight, he said: "The meeting referred' to was of an informal nature and consisted of a few friends interested in the liberal viewpoint, who met to discuss the general political situation. It should not' be interpreted at this stage as being antagonistic to the National Party. The liberals are awaiting an announcement of that party's -policy,. and when that is made they will doubtless arrive at a conclusion as to tho support which can be accorded it." Although Mr. Taverner declined to comment further, it is gathered that the reason for the action that has been taken by this section of the liberals is that in the National Party itself, which was set up to represent all interests opposed to Labour, there is not suffcient recognition of liberals in its ranks or of the body of opinicm among the electors at large which most nearly corresponds with what might be described as a liberal one. They feel, it is said, that the National Party as at present constituted is dominated by the reform element aud that in the north, as well as in Dunedin, there is a feeling that a more liberally-j tinged outlook would be advisable audj that a policy which might be describedj as the "half-way houso" would bei more inclined to appeal to the greatj majority of electors than one in which! the principles of the Reform Party wero> dominant. Proof that this attitude is not general araong liberal members of the National Party was provided in the statement of a man who f ormerly exerted no small influence in the Liberal Party when it enjoyed that name. With most of the old liberals, he said, he was solidly in support of the National Party, sincei that was the only way to fight socialism and, in his opinion, it was o:Jy an inslgnificant section that might grudgo wholehearted loyalty to the' uew party. Any action it could tako would be negligible. The introduction of any differences in the ranks of the antiLabour forces would be fatal. The view that the attitude adopted by those who attended last week's meeting was the result of a misqnderstanding was expressed by Mr. J. G. Jeffery, chairman of the .Otago and j Southland division of the National j Party. Notices of meetings of the party were sent to all members, he said, and when some of the older members, representative both of the Reform and Liberal Parties had not attended meet- j ings, this was regarded as - indicating i that they were content to allow youngei*. members to carry on, while not in any; . way lessening their support. Support for this contention was found, ,in the fact that a good many of the younger liberals were working very enthusiastically for the party. Any dissatisfaction there was had evidently arisen from a misunderstanding by a very small section of liberal supporters, for the organisation as a whole was going very smoothly and harmoni- ■ ously.