A NATIONAL PARTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1924, Page 4

A NATIONAL PARTY.

NEW ASP 111 AXT FOl! OFFICE. AN AITKI.ANfi MOVEMENT. (l.vttelion Tunes Correspondent.) A ICELAND. .June.- 23. The reported intention of (ortain southern Liberals to fonn a new political party was referred to tlio notice of .Mr If. It. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland Ilarhotir Board, who was asked if a Mininiliat .similar proposal had not keen dismissed in Auckland. Mr Mackenzie said the matter had received some attention, hut the movement bii- not confined to the Liberals. I lie idea was to combine the he-t men in th<' Reform and l.iheral patties. and t! ere were also one or two Labour members quite eligible. In national polities act mtlly very little tbe.i was I niuhimeiilal .separated lln* parties indue. The present Ikirlianieiit contained more than oiie man capable of making a pood leader, and it was lerngntsr-d that a leader must come from I’arliauient. A null! without that experience was out of the question. For such a leader Mr Mackenzie said he believed ready support would l e found in the House aml in the country, and there were candidates ready to hear the standard of smdi a party-men capable cf a broader outlook, of looking at piilnic questions from a nation: 1 standjoint. and prepared to master tlie sale jeil on which they were expected i > vote, not sinii ly herdino m the party lobby at the holiest of their leader.

Asked if the format ion of a new parly was likely to allV t the present grouping of parlies or the duration of the picsent Parliament, Afr Mackenzie .said “no." inn when .Mr .Ma-soy retired the 15-form Party would foluw the way of all political groups, and be rophi'vd by another party in course of time.

Air Ala - kenz.ie added that if a National Party was formed, on the lines mentioned, ho would give ii lus support. Aloreoror. ha would be willing to (Oiliest a seat, possibly Manuknu. miller its auspices. He was confident that opinion was ripe for the cumins of a National Party. which would woithily repicsenl and foster the best impulses in the country. Moreover, there wa.s a demand, and a very general one. for a better class of icjire.-en-tativos in the House. .Mediocrity* Seemed to he the paxswoul to-day. but talent, honesty and conviction were his ideal for members of the new paity. lie could not mention names, but such men would willingly offer their services to the country under the banner of a j artv that commanded both enthusiasm and resect.

If s-ii election took plaie now. Mr Mackenzie added, it would he probable that no part.v would have r. majority. That would mean another appeal to the country, or a continuation of the present condition, which approached a stalemate. ‘‘Neither i- good lor the country." he said, ‘‘and neither allows lor the transaction ol its business or lor it ronsidrivd policy to be carried through to its logical conclusion. To cud this condition: to create a GorernmcnP in a position to govern: to give that political stability which is conducive to careful legislation and to economic well-being, tills is wluit we shall hope to achieve in a National Party."

The platform of the j-a,i.v. continued Air Mackenzie was a matter for mature consideration. Certainly loyalty to the King and Kmpii" would be placed tir.-l. The party would eschew class legislation. It would stand lor all the people who were working to leconcile the dilfereiu'cs between Capital and Labour to the advantage of both. It would earnestly seek' a .solution ol the farmers’ problems, and an incroa-o in production, and would give clo-o attention to land settlement in '.(injunction with works to develop the country's latent resources. This was h,v no means a complete statement of the | lutlunn of the party. That had yet to he evolved. “A leader is a lir.-t ■s-eniial," said Air Mackenzie, “and there is in Parliament to-.lay a capable leader for a party which could be formed. I believe its candidates would sween the polls at the election if they stood ns icpi csentativcs of ail the j.eople, and were themselves honest, broadminded man. I repeat that such men arc ready to join a National Party, and I belie'.-,. that the time is ri|:e and their ..tic.e-s assured."

A feeling nl' unrest in |n!iticnl licit ti l's wi .s noth cable not. only in Audi land, Imt also in Wellington am

Dunedin, said Afr William Wallace, dial,man nf the Auckland Hospital Board. ilisi nssiii.; tho prnnc.se.l I’lirmatinii nf a National [’arty last evening, hi tail. In- said, ilia o, ininn uas go 11 -

ceil Unit something must lie ilmic in improve the j: re sent .state of affairs. Tlie solution cninnionly oil’cred was to form a .National Parly front the ] resent liei'.iiin rn.l l.iberol Parties. (!.lier'.t i-e. 'between the two, receni British pditknl history might tie re- | eatc'l in New Zealand. It was Generally felt, also, that bettor men could ha g'ot to lepro-ont the country in the House. Tlie.o were actually holler met. in tin- House to-day than mine iu111ide.'l in flie Cabinet. Many people were dissatisfied with these conditions, and dc.-i ed that they should lie imI'roved. '1 he report that lie wti.s likely to be a tandid'.ite for a National Party, if !n!'!!U"l. was referred to Air AYallaeo. lie said he had heard 'Vii. lt a repot I in Wellington, but he had nothin" lo say on the mailer.