EVERY MOVE KEPT SECRET.

Shannon News, 18 October 1927, Page 3

EVERY MOVE KEPT SECRET.

NEW PARTY LEADERS HINT AT SENSATION. BIG FINANCE FORTHCOMING. COATES MUST GO! (Christchurch Star.) It is understood that delegates from Christchurcn. to attend the conference in Wellington next week of the United New Zealand Political Party organisation were chosen on on Thursday. In the meantime the names are not being disclosed for business and other reasons. As far as can be ascertained from men who have attended meetings held in connection with the. new organisation, it is meeting with a larger measure of public support than is generally recognised. Much of this support is, however, contingent upon the results of the conference, and in the meantime secrecv is the order of the day. 86 Y TO BE A-BIG FORCE. " The first meeting held in Christchurch took place in a room in the Royal Exchange Buildings, and there was a fairly large attendance, including many prominent business men, in addition to those whose names have already been published. The organiser, Mr A. L. Davy, is stated to have assured those present that the movement was being taken up enthusiastically throughout the Dominion, and that it was going to be a big force in shaping the political destiny of the country. When pressed for the names of those who were behind the party in Parliament and in other parts of the Dominion, he replied that they could not be announced until the conference was held. The position appears to be that those who are throwing in their lot with the movement are absolutely in the dark as to the identity of the others who are in it and also as to the source of the big financial support which MiDavy assured them was forthcoming. No one—not any of the local supporters —is prepared to discuss the matter with any degree of freedom at the present time; all are watching events and wondering whether all that the organiser has told them is going to be borne out by future events. ' < TIRED OF MR COATES.''

That the object of the movement is to get rid of Mr Coates as Prime Minister is perfectly clear, and rosy reports of dissension among the Reform members of the House were given by Mr Davy—without, however, any names being stated. As Mr Davy form.er.ly held the position of organiser to the Reform Party in the North Island, it is possible that he is in close touch with many Government supporters and knows their attitude towards Mr Coates.

The degree of secrecy that is being observed among those known to have attended meetings of the party in Christchurch is remarkable. No pledge of secrecy was asked for at the first meeting, but there was a general under, standing that no one was to speak about the matter outside until the right moment. When that moment arrived a* political sensation not equalled in the Dominion for many years was hinted at. It appears that that event is now being awaited with the keenest expectation by those who have accorded approval to Mr Davy's activities. Others are standing outside the party waiting for a favourable opportunity to join up as soon as it galvanises itself into activity after next week's -conference. CAN REFORM WEATHER THE STORM?

Among those remaining loyal to Mr Coates there is still a feeling that the Reform Party will weather the threatened attack. One man said this morning that, the party was an absolutely watertight compartment, and that any move to get rid of Mr Coates was doomed to failure.

Whether this opinion is the correct one will probably be known after next Thursday. In the meantime, however, there are many people who regard a break-up of the Reform Party as quite within the bounds of possibility.