THE OPPOSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1922, Page 5

THE OPPOSITION.

A CONSOLIDATING MOVE. TO AVOID VOTE SPLITTING. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. It was rumored in the lobbies of the House of Representatives to : day that the number of Opposition groups was going to be reduced. The foundation for the rumor was to be found ip a meeting held during the morning following certain informal discussions and negotiations. This meeting was attended by various Liberals and Independent members, and, according to lobby gossips, it resulted in a tentative arrangement being made for the formation of a United Liberal and Labor Party, containing Mr. Wilford and his followers, Mr. Statham and his supporters, and certain members who have ranked during the recent session as Independents of one sort and another. Messrs. Wilford and Statham were both approached on the subject this evening. They did not deny that a meeting had taken place, but they refused to make any statement at that stage concerning the outcome of the proceedings. Several Liberal Independents, including Messrs. Hanan (Invercargill), Brown (Napier), and Craigie (Timaru), stated that they were not associated with the movement, and had not attended the meeting. The object of the meeting, it was stated, was to secure either an amalgamation of forces, or such a working arrangement as would enable the Opposition groups to show a united front in the House, and to avoid vote splitting at the general election. The members who attended the conference are anxious to prevent the extreme Labor section from profiting from dissension among the Liberal and moderate Labor groups. It is understood that other meetings are to be held.