REFORM SECRET.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1920, Page 5

REFORM SECRET.

STORY OF NEW PARTY. CHARGES OF DESERTION. NEW MINISTERS ATTACKED. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. In hifi speech on his amendment "today, Mr. Statham made something of a sensation by telling practically all about the formation of the Progressive Party. Mr. Statham made very particular references to members of the Reform Party who had been active in the formation and orgnnisatiqn of the so-called Progressive Party, and he said it would be understood that he was not doing this with ill feeling. "In 1918," he said, "there was a certain amount of dissatisfaction in the Reform Party, and the member for Oamaru, as he then was, came to me with another gentleman to ask me to assist them in drawing up a platform which would embody the views of the more progressive members of the Reform Party. I agreed with them, and I gave my own opinion of the Reform Ministry at the time, saying that I would turn them out of office, lock, stock, and barrel." Mr. Lee: "It was the National Government."

A KNIGHT OF LABOR. Mr. Statham: "I was Speaking of the Reform members of the Government, as the honorable member knows quite well, .because the honorable member was a member of the Progressive Party." Mr. Statham went on to say tha't the first plank in the platform of the Progressive Party was to be that the Partv itself should elect the members of the Ministry. He had had no hand in gathering members for the Party. As to who did this he had no knowledge. Perhaps the member for Oamaru might be able to enlighten the House, The member for Mataura was elected chairman of the Party. The same honorable gentleman might write a book about himself as having been once a knight of Labor, and having in the end accepted a seat in the Massey Ministry. Mr. Massey: There is nothing wrong about that. Mr. Anderson: I never was a knight of Labor anyway. Mr. Statham: Well, something of the kind. Then I come to the Minister of Education. He was the most enthusiastic member of the Party, and at length his zeal overran his discretion. He was the member who with another member of the Party went to Napier to ask General Sir Andrew Russell to lead the Party. Mr. Parr: I contradict'that flatly. Mr. Statham said that Mr. £arr had been one of the most energetic members of the Party. Mr. Parr: Quite right; that is why I am here.

A FOOT IN EACH CAMP. Mr. Statham said that Mr. Lee had been jnore cautious, especially in the later stages of the business, when he had kept a foot in either camp. Mr. Lee: Give the facts; do not make general statements. Mr. Statliam said that Mr. Lee had certainly been, at the time of which he was speaking, a member of the Progressive Party, but latterly he had not attended anv meetings. Mr. Lee: I did nothing of the kind. Mr. Statham said that the honorabSs member had some of the characteristics of the Vicar of Bray. Mr. Massey: What about yourself? Mr. Statham: I will come to myself later. He went on to say that the first plank in the platform of the Party was that, their Ministry, should they ever be in power, was to be elected by the members of the Party. Mr. Lee: I never approved it. Mr. £tatham: Then the honorable gentleman was there under false pretences, because that was the first plank of our programme. Mr. Harris: Hear,'hear, Mr. 1 Statham: The honorable member for Waitemata says "hear, hear." He knows it quite well, because he was a member of the Progressive Party. He explained that it had been agreed qjnong them that no member of the Party should take office in the Ministry unless with the consent of the Party. Mr. Parr: That is not so. Mr. Statham: I am astonished to Wear the Minister of Education say that. ,

Mr. Lee: Do vou gay that I agreed to that? . " Mr. Statham: The honorable gentleman knows it was the first plank of the Progressive Party. NOT A PARTY. Mr. Parr: As a matter of fact it was not a party; it was the progressive wing of the Reform Party. Mr. Statham said this had not been at all the position, and said that the Progressives aimed at separation from the Reform Party. Mr. Parr: Do you suggest that the Prime Minister did not know what we were doing? Mr. S. G. Smith: Of course he knew. Mr. Hanan: They were putting a pistol to his head. Mr. Statham said that his own attitude had been that they should declare themselves a separate party. He wished to say to the Prime Minister and members of the Reform Party that any criticism he had had to make of the Party he had made to their faces, and not behind their backs. Mr. Parr: That again is incorrect. The honorable member has never breathed a word of this to me directly or indirectly.

Mr. Statham then had a word or two with the member for Wellington Xorth, vyho had made some interjection. Mr. Statham said: "If a man is going to set his heart on getting a seat in the Ministry, and following the Party blindly until he does get a seat in the Ministry, then he is welcome to it. I would sooner beep my self respect and stickto my principles." Mr. Statham closed his speech with a plea that members of the House ought to he able to assert a certain amount of independence. The members wer,e elected by the people, and he claimed that the representatives of the people ought to be allowed to elect the Ministry,