LIBERAL AND LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1922, Page 9

LIBERAL AND LABOUR.

(To tbe Editor.) Sir, —Surely 'something can be done to avoid the vote-splitting which proved so disastrous to both Liberals and Labour at tiic last election. 1 am sure tbe labour members of tbe House must see that the only hope of shifting Massey lies in an arrangement "with tbe Liberate to end these <!ou4,!e suicidal methods. It is.no.'use one blaming the other—(Liberal Jost the Pate* by-election through Labour running a candidate when they had no hope. Labour lust Auckland East through Liberal running a candidate when they had no hope. .Mnsscy is laughing at the situation. Any schoolboy can Eec that bis one and only reason for abandoning his lifelong eepport ot proportional representation is "'selfish love of office." I <lo not suggest that ; Labour is wholly to blame for not bringing about an understanding; far from it. For instance, Mr. Isitt stands -up in the Kouee and openly -states that in a straight-out division between Labour and Massey he would vote ilaseey. While so-called Liberals talk like this there is no hope for unity of action, and as a prelude to negotiation!! we are .quite justified ia requesting that β-ueb. m member either withdraw the statement or take hie «e»t jtratii the iSlaseey party. As things are,.we find Liberal and Labour nearly almyiyo entering the same lobby together and voting against the. minority Government. Let it be clearly understood that to end this vote-splitting, which is only possible under an .antiquated system. Labour need not take from or alter their platform in any shape or form. Indeed, proportional representation, which is one of Labour's prominent planks, would become -the law of the land, and I am certain the Liberals would Aelp ws in securing free school books as provided in England for many year*.—l am,.etc., .