WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE POLITICAL REVOLT. CONSTITUTION OF NEW PARTY. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 12. At last something like an authoritative statement concerning the composition and purpose of the new political party, whicl. has been the. subject of bo much speculation and discussion during the last few months, is available. Certain members of Parliament aitociated with the movement have explained in self-defence their attitude towards the two old parties and their leadeis. It has been an open secret for some lime past that at the Reform caucus held oh the eve of Mr. Massey'a departure for London, there was some plain speaking by several members of the rank and tile of the party, who thought they were being placed at a disadvantage in the eyes of their constituents by the operation of the party truce and by the indefinite postponement of a number of vital questions upon which the conflicting elements in the National Cabinet could not agree.

RESTLESS MEMBERS. Mr. Massey's retort to this, it is now stated, was that while he felt bound by the conditions of the tmce himself till it was formally renounced, he had no wish to prejudice the interests of his supporters, and if they thought fit to propound their own personal views from the platform or in any other way they pleased, they were at liberty to do so. It would have to be understood, however, that they were speaking without the authority of their leader, and that what tlwy might say would in no way commit the party. The Liberal caucus, held about the same time, was rather more harmonious, but three or four members complained of the disabilities placed upon them by the truce, and expressed a wish to be relieved from them at the earliest possible moment. Sir Joseph Ward re- "< plied in much tie same terms as those employed by the Prime Minister, and ' both leaders were fully conscious of the feeling of unrest at the time of their departure. ORGANISATION. ■ Though none of the dissatisfied mem bers took the platform to proclaim their grievances to the wot Id at large, they soon discovered they had in' the country a large number of sympathisers ready to encourage them in their revolt against the National Government, The outcome was several informal meetings between the disgruntled politicians and more or less prominent commercial and professional gentlemen interested in the public afiairs of the Dominion, and finally a conference at which the propriety of forming a new political party was seriously discussed. So far the movement has come purely from the Reform side of politics, and while not being hostile to Mr Massey personally is largely impelled by a desi.-e to associate the partv with a more progressive policy and more business-like and effective administration Sor the moment it is 1-eld in suspense pending receipt of information concerning the Prime Minister's own intentions

THE LIBERAL PARTY. Though no Liberal member of the Hou.o of Representatives is taking an aetive part m the formation of the „ow party-if it ha 3 got to the Icr.gth 0 f forming « party-it would be very wide of the mark to *y the Liberal member* as a whole are satisfied with the ure Sen , position Many of them are gravely dTs satisfied. and without ~nv lm»ks «£ nou„cen,e.,t from their leader they l "?, held together rather by fear of tne 11 posing camp than by attachment to th£r own. They are taking it for * however that on the formal concision J peace, whether the party len.il ' V ■ ' returned or not, they will be r i i J""'* the shackles of thetruce and at n T I to prepare for the general "let o tt? all expect long beforS the end of n