UNITED PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1930, Page 2

UNITED PARTY

IMPORTANT MEETING.

PREMIER TO ATTEND.

v ßy Telegraph-Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 17

The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward,) has arranged to attend a special meeting of the supporters ol the United Party in AYellington on Friday next.

This information was given by telephone from Rotorua to-night by Sir Joseph Ward, when emphatically denying a rumour that a meeting was to be held to receive his resignation as Leader of the Party.

‘•There is no truth in it,” Sir Joseph declared. “Aqu have my authority for giving it an emphatic denial 1 will be present at the meeting, but .1 have no intention of resigning. Aon you can make that quite clear!” The Prime Alinister did not indicate conference of the United Party, or whether the gathering was to he a merely a meeting of the Executive of the organisation and the members of the Cabinet present in AA'ellington, although his intention to he present i.s highly significant. If the conference is to lie a Dominion one, it is certain that questions of the utmost importance will he discussed including the legislative programme for next session, New Zealand’s representation at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, the possibility of an election this year, the support to be expected from the Labour Party in the House, and the question of unemployment. If, however, the meeting is purely of the Executive of the organisation, and members of the Cabinet, the main object of it, no doubt, is the reconstruction of the party’s organisation.

It is understood that a successor to Mr A. Davy, formerly Dominion Chairman of the United New Zealand Political Organisation, lias been appointed, lni.t no official announcement is yet available. It is not known whether Sir Joseph Ward intends to return to Rotorua after attending the meeting in Wellington.

It is of interest that a caucus of tlm Parliamentary Labour Party is to be held in Wellington on Wednesday.