POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1928, Page 1

POLITICAL

XF.AY PARTY'S POLICY. Ily Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright AUCKLAND, Feb. 8. Declining to answer questions and promising to give the policy ol the ‘.‘United Political Party” when the next general elections campaign opens, Mr CJ. IV. Forbes, Leader of the Nationalist Party and present political head of the new party, spoke at the Town flail to-night, dealing with the political sins of the present administration and suggesting reasons why there should he a change of Government.

Tli.e audience filled the greater part of the lower portion of the Town Hall and it was evident from the reception which was accorded references to the pa boor Party that the majority were adherents of that cause, a fact on which Air Forbes commented. '1 be Mayor Air 0. Ihiildon. presided, and associated with -Air Forbes was Air .h. A Hansom, member lor Pabiatua. The meeting was the first under the auspices of tin* new party. Air Forbes said there were signs ol tin* disintegration ol the Helium party, with which there was dissatisfaction throughout the country. Inemploynient was the test ol the Government’s efficiency, and he said that in 1890 when the Liberal Government bad come into power, it had met a similar situation by palliative measures which bad become unnecessary when a vigorous land settlement policy had been inaugurated. There was need to-day of more vigour in settling the land, and he criticised the Afinister of Lands lor lack of energy in this respect. He accused the Government of extravagance in lxnrowing. and asked how could the last budget be termed tin economy budget when it forecasted a fall in revenue and an increase in expenditure. The needs of the country to-day were a vigorous land settlement policy, fostering, without spoon feeding, the worth while secondary industries; careful control by Parliament of National expenditure a more equitable scheme of election by preferential voting. and legislative rest. Many members of the audience were calling on Mr Forbes to answer questions and to state the new policy, while at the same time others were calling out eulogies of the Labour Party, when the Alayor declared carried'on the voices a resolution of thanks to the speaker. A motion also proclaiming that the speech revealed an urgent need of change of Government and that the meeting welcomed the new movement, as a basis Ln united political action, commendable to. and in the interests of the community was moved. The motion was moved and seconded from the body of the hall. An amendment, protesting against conscription, was lost.