POLITICAL PARTIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1922, Page 6

POLITICAL PARTIES.

OPPOSITIONISTS IN CONFERENCE. A SECRET CONCLAVE. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Feb. 4. The making of an *Opposition is a serious business, and naturally it attracts the attention of the House. On Saturday afternoon, when fhfe Labor members were discoursing determinedly on the Arbitration Bill, the Opposition benches became almost empty. A reckoning of the missing heads suggested that some common purpose might have prompted the withdrawals. A search of the buildings revealed the fact that \ something in the nature of a conference was proceeding in the room of the Leader of the Liberal Party. The proceedings were not public. There were indications, indeed, that the participants were not courting the attention of anybody, but a reporter happened to be in the vicinity when the gathering dispersed. The Liberal Leader (Mr. Wilford) was supported by his chief lieutenant (Mt. Sidey), and his whip (Mr. Forbes). The leader of the Progressive Liberals and Moderate Labor Party (Mr. Statham) had with him his organiser (Mr. Edie), and some members of his own executive. Mr. Veitch represented the Independent Labor section of the Opposition. The reporter asked Mr. Forbes how the formation of the “United Opposition” was progressing. The Liberal | Whip replied genially that “the crops I were looking very well, and he thought i there was every prospect of a fine night.”