LIBERALS AND OTHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 28 February 1923, Page 4

LIBERALS AND OTHERS.

It would be a good thing for Xew Zealand if all moderate progressives took to heart the sound analysis of the political situation that .Mr. WUford delivered at Waverley last night. The Leader of the Opposition emphasised what this paper has stressed, the position of his party between two tires, the check it offers to Conservatism, and the barrier that it imposes to the extreme Labour party reaching the first goal of its ambition, the official Opposition benches. What Reformers cannot and will not see is that the chances of the Labour party, which they profess to dislike and fear so much, reaching the Government benches, will be greatly bettered if that party becomes the official Opposition. It is frankly recognised in Conservative quarters in England that as a, result ot that "eternal law of displacement and replacement" that Mr. Wilford referred to, and the new status of the Labour party, the possibility or probability of Labour climbing to office has to be faced. Vet many Reformers are quite willing to help to put a Labour m#n in if they can keep a Liberal out. The Westland seat, a Liberal atronghold for many decades, was presented to the Labour parly by the intrusion of a Reform candidate. When the Reform candidate entered the Hutt contest, a number of the Labour candidate's eojnmitteemen went over to him, showing that Reformers were quite prepared to strengthen Labour if they could weaken Liberalism. The hypocrisy of the attitude is rather striking. On the other side we have Mr. Holland advising Liberals to join Reform, and members of his party proclaiming that there is no difference between the two parties. Mr. Wilford sees clearly that Labour aims at getting many of the votes that went to Liberal candidates at the last election. It has been said that the Labour party dislikes Liberalism even more than Reform. The Tauranga byelection may be a test of this estimate, Labour is believed to be going to contest the election. The only effect this would have would bo to jeopardise the chances "of the Liberal candidate; are we therefore to believe that Labour would rather see a follower of Mr. Massey elected than a Liberal?