WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE NEW POLITICAL PABTY. A BELATED DISCOVEBX; (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 10. The Press Association message from Dunedin published in the papers on Saturday announcing that "a new and powerful political party is being formed in New Zealand" has created some amusement here. Not that the defection of certain prominent Reformers and Liberals from their absent party leaders is regarded as any laughing matter Quite the reverse. Many of those who join with the revolutionists in condemning the laisßer faire attitude of the National Government think the time wholly inopportune for the formation of a new party and the summary renunciation of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. But the news telegraphed from Dunedin in hot haste is three, or four months old in less somnolent communities and has been the subject of daily discussion in political circlet for a mach longer period.

PROPOSALS TAKING SHAPE. A conference of some of the pro-* motors of the movement was held hete- & fortnight ago when it was decided to Invite a number of prominent business and professional men to meet the dissatisfied members of Parliament to discuss the situation. It is understood that the response of this invitation has been most encouraging, from the revolutionists' point of view, and that a representative conference of the dissatisfied element'- will take place in Wellington this .... The promoters of the nmvement hope to draw support front both the old political paHieß, and even from sano Labor, but they confess they are relying mainly upon the progressive Reformers, whom they represent as being thoroughly dissatisfied by Mr Massey's failure to realise his platform, pledges of 1911. A MINISTERIAL VIBW.

The Acting Prime Minister, Sir James Allen, is away from town just now and probably were he here woald not be disposed to talk on the subject for publication. The acting leader of the Liberal party, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, when seen this morning proved no better draw. He had heard, of course, of the existence of the new party, in fact he seemed to know a great deal more about its constitution than the man in the street doeB; but he declined to express any opinion concerning its formation or its prospects. He found no fault, however, with political unrest. It was the very salt of national life, he said, and properly directed could make only for national progress. But he did not like the idea of turning on the party leaders during their absence and he hoped in this respect the promoters of the movement had been misrepresented. A REVOLUTIONIST'S CONFESSION. One of the revolutionists, a member of the House of Reps, whose party leanings need not be mentioned, was more communicative. He said that no surprise was being sprung on Mr Massey or Sir Joseph Ward. It was made perfectly clear to both of the party leaders before they left for London that certain members of Parliament would feel at liberty to express their awn opinions as they pleased and to criticise the legislation and administration of the National Government quite frankly. This practically was all that was hapepning. In Parliament and .outside there were many men sick and tired of having their tongues tied and they were banding together to throw off the silence and impotence that had been imposed upon them war. This did not necessarily mean revolt. Whether it would or not depended upon the party leaders themselves.