POLITICAL PARTIES PREPARING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 3 August 1929, Page 7

POLITICAL PARTIES PREPARING

■ , ~! ORGANISATION IN THE ' % ELECTORATES V W Although opinion in political circles is that the present Parliament is likely to run its full course, the two main parties are taking every precaution so as to be ready in the event of an early appeal to the country (states the-Christ-church “Times”, which, supports the United Party). Executive officers are quietly perfecting organisation in:(the electorates. G Before the commencement of th£ session, the Leader of the Opposition the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, toured the principal centres of the Dominion for the purpose of infusing new life into the Reform Party’s organisation and since his visits the local branches of-' the party have been carrying on the)., work. The United Party also has not beeu letting the grass grow under its -feet; and already it has placed its organisation on a sound basis throughout- the North Island and in Otago and Southland. A start will be made with the organising work in the Canterbury district next week when Mr O. E. Holler; Dominion Organiser of the party, will pay a visit to Canterbury. Mr Moller will arrive in Christchurch on Sunday finovniirg, and on Wednesday a meeting of friends and sup porters-of - the United Party will be held. ’• '" -

The Labour Party, which is the least prepared of the three political parties in the. event of an early general' election, has not done much organising work since last year; it- is also handicapped as regards campaign funds. -As however, it has a permanent organisation in existence in all the principal districts, it would be able to make election preparations at short notice. 9 It is not considered that the-aetivf-C ties of the Reform and United Parties are any evidence of a desire for another appeal to the country before the life of the present Parliament- would normally expire at the end of 1931. These measures are being taken merely on account of the uncertainty of the future political happenings in the Dominion, due th the fact- that the Government does not hold a majority of the seats in Parliament. lit view of the unprepared ness of the Labour Party, it is believed that it will take every precaution to avoid an early election, and will neither move nor support any n.o-confidence motion in the present Government- unless very unusual circumstances arise.