STRIFE IN UNITED PARTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 1

STRIFE IN UNITED PARTY

General Secretary Resigns OFFICIAL BLAMES MINISTERS “ Lack of Co-Operation 99 Special to THE SUIT THE resignation of the general secretary of the I'uiled New Zealand Political Party is announced from Wellington. This official says he cannot continue in office in view of the present condition of the party. He blames Cabinet Ministers for lack of co-operation, and speaks of “the domination of the party by a little band of front-bench Liberals.”

WELLINGTON, Today. The newest development in the United Party strife is the resignation of the general secretary, Mr. Quentin Pope, who has requested the Dominion executive to relieve him of his duties forthwith. In a statement issued today, Mr. Pope says: “X find myself unable to continue in office in the present condition of the party, and in the relationship which exists between the Cabinet and the organisation. The Cabinet Ministers have consistently failed to give that co-operation which the organisation had a right to expect, I personally believe because they were afraid that the organisation was dominated by Mr. A. E. Davy. That belief was absurd, for much of the organisation was established at a time when people who saw the new Government come into office were enthusiastic as to its prospects, and willing to link themselves with a movement which today they would hesitate about joining. “Great harm was done to the organisation by the failure of Ministers to do their part, and more so by the open hostility of some Ministers, who obviously feared a position which might arise if their election pledges were not fulfilled, and also obviously feared that Davy influence, which was largely a myth. . “The acting-leader of the party, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, admitted before the week-end conference that to him the organisation was a blank sheet of paper, and he presided at a meeting which was called to determine the future of the organisation. I have no hesitation in saying that the rest of the Cabinet are largely in the same position as Mr, For-bee. These factors alone would be enough to cause me to sever my connection with the party, but there are other reasons, among which are the domination of the party by a little band of front-bench Liberals, who would never have reached office on their merits, but who have been taken there by a movement of which they are now afraid, and also the futility of the party in its conduct of affairs, and the lack of ability which has been revealed in sessional work and administration.”

“FARCICAL,” SAYS DAVY

UNITEDS’ CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON NOT HAPPY GATHERING Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday. I “The United Party Conference is possibly the most farcical political meeting ever reported to the public, particularly as the organisation generally was not aware officially that it was to take place,” said Mr. A. E. Davy, former chairman of the Dominion executive of the United New Zealand Political Organisation. In the course of a statement, he said: “In a letter sent by Mr. Vincent Ward to Messrs. McGrath, Lonergan, Perry, Kerr, Burns, Sievwright and Henderson, he states: ‘I have also written on my father’s instructions to several friends of the party, as decided at the meeting we had recently in the Cabinet room, asking them to be here on Friday, February 21.’ It is quite evident, therefore, that the only ones who were advised that a conference was to take place were the members of the Dominion executive named above and—the several friends—namely, Messrs. J. T. Hogan, Independent member for Rangitikei; Stevenson. chairman of Sir Joseph Ward’s committee in Invercargill; Saul Solomon, K.C. (Dunedin), J. R. Hayward (Christchurch), J. Trevethick (Auckland), R. Masters (Stratford), A. Jull (Waipawa). “THE BIG STICK” “This is the boasted conference of the United New Zealand Political Organisation called to discuss important matters in connection with the organisation. The elimination of headquarters’ organisation is aimed at. Far from being the happy family gathering Mr. Hawke would have us believe, the caucus, according to my information, was the reverse. Mr. Forbes attempted to wield the big stick, but it proved a weapon of straw. It is rather significant that Mr. Broadfoot was one of the founders of the party, and was its first announced candidate. Criticism evidently is not to be tolerated* “That the departure of these members was not regretted is untrue. Is it not a fact that nearly two hours were taken up with pleading persuasion by numerous members, including the Independent member for Rangitikei, and members of Cabinet? In spite of the attempt to white-wash Sir Joseph Ward and the Cabinet, there was a strong undercurrent throughout the proceedings. Charges, counter-charges and ultimatums were the order of the day. OSTRICH TACTICS “I am more than ever reminded of • the ostrich, which, when danger

threatens, is supposed to hide Its head in the sand. The conference was obviously called to provide that sand and the motion of confidence and loyalty passed by those few devout who were present will prove as valueless as that same sand to the ostrich. By the same token I notice that the leader of the Reform Party has been equally busy gathering sand. “In a very short time the public will realise that the statements I made recently were founded on facts, and that the need is greater than ever for the public to take a hand and bring these party manoeuvrings and bickerings to an end.”

NOT PARTY CONFERENCE

MR. FORBES ON FRIDAY’S MEETING VALUABLE WORK DONE Press Association WELLINGTON. Sunday. The statement by Mr. Davy regarding the United Party meeting was referred to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, who, in the absence of the Prime Minister, presided at the gathering of Parliamentary members of the party in Wellington on Friday. Mr. Forbes stated that the meeting had been called on the instruction of the Prime ■ Minister It was purely a meeting of the Parliamentary members of the party and the Dominion executive, together with certain other gentlemen who were the recognised heads of the party in various parts of the country. It was not, nor was it. intended to be, a conference of the United Party’s organisation, as suggested by Mr. Davy. “I can state emphatically that very valuable work was accomplished.'’ continued the Minister, “particularly in laying down the basis of the future reorganisation of the party and placing it on a much more satisfactory footing than had been the case during Mr. Davy’s tenure of the position of organiser, and later as chairman of the organisation. In spite of what took place at the commencement of the meeting, including the not altogether unexpected resignation of one member of the party, the subsequent proceedings were marked by the utmost harmony.”

“WANTED CABINET RANK”

MR. HAWKE'S EXPLANATION OF REVOLT ! “PARTY SOLID AS ROCK” Special to THE SUH CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. “The United Party is as solid as a i rock, and the caucus was not in the | least disturbed when the three disgruntled members left the room said Mr. R. W. Hawke, MP„ th ’* morning on his return fropi the United Party meeting in Wellington. Messrs. Jenkins, Fletcher and Broadfoot, he said, had been harmful to the party, and it was the best thing that could happen that they should join the ranks of the Independents, where they rightly belonged. Asked if there was any possibility of further defections Mr. Hawke replied: “Never on your life. These men were more or less disgruntled right from the start, and we had a good deal of difficulty with them during the session. No one who has any respect for the party could feel happy while associated with them. It is a case of men young in public life showing their disappointment because they could not realise their ambitions. They all had aspirations for Cabinet rank, and because they did cot get it they became disgruntled. Those of us who sat near them in the House last session were disgusted with their political attitude, and often tackled them on their lack of loyalty to the party.” Mr. Hawke declared emphatically : that there was not the slightest desire within the party to depose Sir Joseph Ward from the position of leader “Every member of the party feels happier today for what has taken place. As a party we are not a bit disturbed. The United Party will now go forward as a solid body, more determined than ever before to do what it considers is best in the interests of the Dominion.” An interview with Mr. 11. R. Jenkins, M.P. for Parnell, in which he describes as untrue and unfair the reference to hi. political ambitions made by Mr. Hawke, appears on Page 11.