TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1905. A NEW LIBERAL PARTY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 131, 13 June 1905, Page 4

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1905. A NEW LIBERAL PARTY.

Last week it was reported from Christchurch. that a new political party had been formed at that centre. The combination has been dubbed "The New Liberal party," and it may therefore be safely assumed that it has no rightful claim to the name at all. The names of those primarily concerned in this derelopment have been kept a close secret, but considering that the locality named is the headquarters of Mr T- E Taylor, and that Mr Fisher, the youngest member of Parliament — who is personally opposed to the Premier — is also a resident of the Cathedral City, it is not difficult to imagine who are at the bottom of the movement. Mr Taylor has already threatened the Premier with a very "warm" time during the coming session, and it will be interesting to see what the effect ef this new factor in politics will be. It is at least somewhat peculiar that at a time when the remnants of the old Conservative party are commencing their first real solid effort to depose the Government that a number of men of avowed Liberal principles should meet together to form a new party, and that in antagonism to the Government. I£ these people are desirous of making a "Left vring," so as to be able to hoJd the balance of power in the event of a close division, then it can only be characterised as a most unholy combination, and one that deserves the reprobation of all the loyal friends of the Ministry. It is quite easy to understand that men elected to support a party may not see eye to eye with the leader on all public questions, but while there may be honest differ-

ences of this nature, it would be the rankest disloyalty for the disaffected ones to conspire in private for the overthrow of the leader. The reasonable course for a man who finds himself in antagonism to his party is to resign his trust ; or if he considers such a step not necessary, he should formally transfer his allegiance to the "other side." But this is where the difficulty for these " new Liberals " comes in. They cannot with any degree of decency support Mr Massey, so they decide to form a party of their own. There is one fortunate circumstance in regard to this matter, and that is, that the electors will in a few months time have the opportunity of reviewing the conduct of these budding Cabinet makers, and we shall be very much mistaken indeed if the verdict will be a favourable one. The fact is that the c»ming struggle will be particularly keen. The Opposition will not be rent by internal differences, and their one hope will be to oust the Government from office. On the other hand, the Liberals threaten to be weakened by serions divisions. There is a Liberal-Labour section promoted by the Hon. J. Rigg; then there is the Socialist section, which is gradually coming into prominence in the towns. Finally we have this newest creation of all — the new Liberals ! Strong as the Liberal vote undoubtedly is, it is questionable whether it can carry the weight of all this division, and the people of the colony must make up their minds whether they are prepared to permit the good work that has been accomplished during the last fifteen years to be overridden because of the machinations of a few discontented and ambitious plotters, who are desirous of forcing their own personalities to the front.