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Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1919, Page 2

Mb W, D, Ste>vabt’s announcement that he stands for Dunedin West this election as an “Independent” occasions 'no surprise, for during tlie past 12 j months lie has heen identified with the | not inconsiderable number, of members g , on both sides who were making efforts jto form a new progressive party, with s j the object of breaking down the old j party lines between the Reform and 5 ; Liberal adherents. The new party was never politically born, only tyecause members were personally pledged to one or the other Leader, and were embark rassed by the absence of these Leaders. However, most of the men who were interested in this movement are standing now as Independents, taking individual acjtion where collective action was inig possible. Mr Stewart has explained his reasons for standing as “Independent” to hi s committees; and in the course of a short interview this morning lie re- * hearsed the facts. “The electors,” lie said, “must have been struck by the large number of candidates who are '• standing as Independents at this elecI tion, and they will conclude that there d are unusual circumstances justifying such a course. The fact is that a large ' number of members on both sides of the House are determined to make ail effort to end the old ‘slinm fight’ be- ’ tween Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. ‘ The only course by which can be done ' is for a sufficient number of men to be returned as Independents to force the 1 I position. So long as they are returned i pledged to one Leader or the other, their hands are tied; and that is exactly what prevented the fusion of these two parties during this last session, although a large number of members were in favour of such a course. The party s 5' s- , tem is bad enough at any time, but I where it exists if should be based on 'real differences in political convictions, j and not merely on persona} preference for one Lender or the other. Until the I artificial barriers between the two parties are broken down, New Zealand will not get the best Administration possible, , and will run the risk of being subjected to the three-party system unnecessarily. My hope is to see a strong i National Party formed, comprising not merely the besf elements of the Reform and Liberal Parties, but also a strong section of Moderate Labor. There is no direct representative of | Labor in the present Cabinet, and at a time when industrial problems are so pressing a portfolio should be held by some authoritative Labour represent*. : tive. I do not think the public will conclude that the ‘lndependents’ are standing as such merely to see “how the cat jumps.' On the contrary, they are standing in that way in order to compel the political cats to jump instead of, sitting on opposite sides of the fence spitting at each other.” ——mm— ——tmm y