NEW PARTY FORMED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1931, Page 7

NEW PARTY FORMED

OUTLINE OF POLICY. WELLINGTON, October 20. .A significant manifestation oi the political drift which has followed the establishment of the Forbes-Coates Ministry is the formation of a People's Party, a political organisation which claims infiuential support outside Parliament and also the backing of a sound following in the House of Representatives. The policy of this new party, which is now being framed, is understood to differ materially from that ol the Coalition and will embrace proposals based upon different premises for ensuring the stabilisation of national accounts.

Although the formation of the new partly unknown to many members of Parliament, quite a number has been ■watching it with interest, and it was learned to-day that the way had been cleared for the recruiting of followers and also that a section of the House of Representatives had pledged its support. There is at present a likelihood of four Independents joining the ranks, and there is reason to believe that several others will be found to support the organisation, including possibly one or two ex-Ministers of the Crown. At the moment the chief support for 'the new organisation appears to come from ■Auckland, whence a delegation representing the Auckland supporters of the movement < to-day for the purpose of entering Imo direct negotiations with those interested in Wellington. Dunedin has already began to secure followers, and a paid organiser has been engaged there, while an organisation has' also been formed in Wellington to further the objects of the party. The names of those directly .interested have not been revealed, aj! hough it is stated that the movement has the support of an influential section of the manufacturers of the Dominion, a body of commercial men and several farmers’ organisations.

The move for its formation came from outside Parliament in the first place, but

■it was stated to-day that the preliminary work had been advanced sufficiently to enable the promoters'to seek the support of members of Parliament.

Several outstanding policy points are mentioned by those who have undertaken the formation of the new party. Considerable emphasis will be placed on finance in general and the existing high rate of interest in particular. It is contended that the Supplementary Budget presented by the Coalition Ministry does not go far enough and more drastic measures must be taken to place the farming community on a sound footing. The interest rates are intimately bound up with this question, and the policy of the new party will be to force the rates down to a level that will not press so heavily on the mortgagors and business people. Trade relations with overseas countries and principally within the Empire have engaged the attention of the founders. The Dominion’s overseas trade would be fostered to a greater extent and every effort made to increase exports to Canada and Australia, and to this end it is stated that every possible avenue of procuring favourable trade agreements with these two countries should be explored. In addit'on the new party has practically declared itself in favour of securing more revenue through trading combinations from overseas by direct taxation upon foreign firms placing raw materials and manufactured articles on the Xew Zealand market. The development of local industries will ioim an important part of the policy, and it is contended that greater efforts should be made to increase manufacturing in the Dominion and also to establish branch factories in Xew Zealand ol firms now sending the finished article into this country. It is maintained that a closer watch should be kept by Parliament upon the national accounts. A Public Accounts Committee of the House was set up to-day, but ordinarily this operates only during a session, whereas the policy of the new party will be to have it sit during the recess, ensuring that the Minister of Finance and the Treasury should not have complete control over the expenditure for the greater-part of the year.