POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1928, Page 4

POLITICAL

AIB FORBES’ VIEWS. DUNEDIN. Ala roll 14. “During my political career I have never known such a hopeful outlook in regard to getting together a strong Party in place of the Government which lias lost the confidence of the country,” stated Air G. AV. Forbes, Leader of the Nationalist Party today. . Anticipating an early election, through AH Coates being unable to keep the dissatisfied members of his Party in hand, AH Forbes is making preparations accordingly, and he is now in Dunedin meeting Liberal supporters and dissatisfied Reformers. “Afr Coates is very optimistic if lie thinks he is going to carry on with his Party in such a dissatisfied state as it. now is,” said Air Forbes. “Apparently' he knows very little of the feelings and expressions of the members of bis Party when lie has no (ears of Parliament not running to its full length, and when he expects no difficulties. 1 tllik it is quite probable that AH Coates will find that the sit- 1 nation will get so much out of hand j luring the coming session that he will he only too pleased to terminate

Parliament very much earlier than usual. The careless way in which the ! Prime Minister talks about spending j pillions is causing a good deal of alarm I linong men who have some thdiight of 1 die future. The piling up of an i in- j netise public debt, with heavy interest i 'barges, is causing concern among men vho realise that the debt is a. burden j m the country and a handicap to in- I Instry. The new Party will stand for he reduction of borrowing and the ightening of the burden of taxation. ! nd there is a strong feeling that ii I ’arty of that type is required. There s no doubt that a great deal of snpiort is coming from men who have j een strong supporters of the Reform | 'artv in the past. They realise that | he Reform Party has outlived its use- | ulness. Opportunism is now their j eynote.” Mr Forties also condemned “joy ridig” by the Ministers. Three Mitilsjfs, he said, had been on tour, not uly in Otago but in Auckland. The j expense of their entourage following them about the country was looked upon as being out of place at a time ( when there was such a need for eco- ( liomv. and when the country was ex- ( periencing unemployment and other . troubles. ! ,