The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1905. THE "NEW PARTY" CRAZE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7867, 8 July 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1905. THE "NEW PARTY" CRAZE.

Theft appears to have arisen an inordinate party craze amongst the members ot the House ol Representative* tor forming little parties as separate from the two main factions kn«wa as the Government and Opposition. Whether this is ;hc outconic ol a desire tor public notoriety, or 4 conscientious desire to promote the welfare of the colony is somewhat doubtful. The "New Liberal Party," hailing from Christchurch, lias formulated a platform that is evidently intended to attract attention as a model of everything that is pure and elevating in politics, and not a little that is likely to create confusion. The modesty of the programme is much akin to that its authors. First and foremost their aim is to bring about an efficient and honourable administration of the colony's affairs, free from party bias, Constitutional reform, elective Kictut ire and Legislative Council (to he /elected by tire House), referendum and initiative. Then follows a detailed field of action, thus " Land interests '■ (1) Existing freehold and /easehold titles to be preserved in

their irjtcgrily. (2) Lands required for close settlement or other public necessities must be purchased from the owner, as is done under the Lands for Settlement Act. (3) The immediate fulfilment of all engageincuts to back-blocks settlers by completion of roads and improve men Is for which lands have been loaded. (-1) No further sales oi Crown lands, or of lands purchased | by the Crown for closer settlement. 1(5) The administration oi Crowd lands to be decentralised for the future, these lands to be administered in a similar manner to the existing educational reserves, the revenues being utilised for such purposes as national education and charitable aid. (6) Existing 91)9 years' leases : Ji Parliament decides to grant to the present holders of these leases tinright to acquire the freehold, such right to convert their leaseholds to freeholds should only be granted upon the basis of the full market value oi the land at the date of the conversion, subject to the tenant having full value for improvements, all receipts for the conversion of the 'JD'J years' lease to freehold to be used strictly to purchase further lands for close settlement under the leasehold system. (7) Administration of the Land for Settlement Act, and extension of its provisions : The need of I a more rigorous administration oi the Lands for .Settlement Act, and in congested districts an extension of its provisions in the direction of acquiring land /or workmen's homes, [together with greater facilities for advancing money for the erection ui homes thereon. The re-adjustmeut oi taxation by increasing the graduated land tax on large estates, and reducing Customs duties on the necessaries of life." There are still a few more matters to which this energetic party pledges itself, such as the reorganisation of the Defence and Educational Departments ; abolition of plural voting ; maintenance of the present Labour legislation ; the people's direct control of the Hytiot traffic ; and superannuation schemes for all Civil servants. Here, apparently, they will rest a while, and give some of the oilier Parties a chance. With regard to the "Country Parly," they have a common bond of alliance, which is naturally directed towards shepherding the country settlers. Practically it is a Party only in name, as each member will be most concerned in securing crumbs for his own district. The last Party to be enrolled may be termed the "Auckland Party," consisting of the members for that district. At present they don't quite know what they want, but at a lively meeting, after Messrs McGowan, Kidd and Jennings had retired from the deliberations, which were not to their liking, a resolution was carried "Pledging the remainder of tin- i-m----cric to act unitedly, and to secure an equitable and just allocation oi public moneys jn (he Auckland provincial district, and to subordinate Party in'eresls where necessary hr secure justice to all palls of the Auckland province." Of course, the near approach of flic general election explains a good deal of this parochialism in politics, but, we do not look upon the new departure as a; all likely to furl her the best inlerrsls ot the colony. On the contrary, it is more likely to impede progress and lessen the usefulness of (he House.