A NEW PARTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1920, Page 1

A NEW PARTY.

DENIED BY MR McCALLUM. I ■ i ... - ' _____ -- (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Potter (Roskiil) asked a- question without notice' regarding a. new party that is alleged to have come into existence on the Opposition side of tlie House. It ‘ was reported that Mr McCollum (Wairaii) had formed the hew party' of—Witty, Brown, Poland, Atmore, Craigie, ' McOallum,' Statliam. Sykes, Kellet, S' G. Smith, Statliam, Mitchell',‘ McDickson, Haniin, and' Dr. Newman. ’iVlr Potter ' said' they w?re described as an Independent Liberal Labour Reform Party, and lie asked if the Prime Minister would allow them seats oh that side of the House. Mr Massey replied smiling that lie regretted exceedingly there were seiUs to be disposed of on the Govei nmeul side of tlie House. He would be interested to hear froiii the new party fo 'know wild' their leader was A little later in the'afternoon Mr McCailum craved the indulgence of the House to ! make a statement: Mr Massey—ls this official. Mr kcCalluhi—No. 'Tlie member for Wairau billy'. Some people, lie added, iiad been drawing upon their imaginations;: He had! 1 ndver -suggiested that there was a' new party. They were free lances and there was no cohesion at present among the 15 nienibers. He had stated they were Liberal Labour and unattached ■ independents. If 'the full contents of his remarks were read, they could not be construed into anything that might be expressed publicly by any member of Parliament to a paper for circulation. Since the interview had been published, at least' one other member had come to him' and expressed his regret that he had not been included, because he he-, longed to one of the same hand (laugh • ter, and cries of “What is liis name.”)

Mr McCalium added that there was not a new party, and no suggestion of a 'new party liad‘been made by him ‘Mr ’ Mitchell (Wellington : South) ltail no authority to' speak on behalf of t’- e new party.