"Progressive" Tactics Once More.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14971, 19 May 1914, Page 6

"Progressive" Tactics Once More.

Speech—even of the poorest —may fill in time for tho Opposition until the session commences, and during the session nobody will expect much more from thcra than Teitcratcd assertions as to tho wickedness of the Ministry and the bad character of all of us poor Reformers. But the day cannot he deferred when the public must bo told something of what "Liberalism" really stands for—something, not of what Scddor/s party did or Ballanco's party, but of what would bo done by the party led by, or-at any rate attached to. Soddon's successor. , Tho, "Liberals" are still.careful to avoid definiteness — wo need not take soriously the "BroJ' visional Committee of tho Progrcs-

"eivo Liberal «nd Labour Association" and its funny policy—but thcro aro abundant signs that they realise that they must depend upon the Social Democrats. Tho "Reform Party can look, and indeed does look, with entire calmness' upon the manoouvrings of the Opposition strategists. Tho majority of tho electors aro Reform voters, and tho minorities may add and divido themselves as much as thoy pleas© without becoming something moro than a minority. In the moantimo '" the real political struggle just now is ! a etrugglo betweou a section of • tho "Liberals" and a section of the SocialDemocrats for position on the Opposition benches. Sir jSseph "Ward's faction hopes io remain as the dominant Opposition group, and to this end it is striving to induce tho Sooial Democrats to abandpn their; aspirations as an independent party.- In this liitle game the "Liberals" are receiving the support of a section of the Red Fed.-Social Democrat Party, and there aro men in that party who dislike yery much the idea that their organisation, should becomo merely a Wardito electioneering agency. The point of viow of these Social Democrats* is set forth in their official organ in these terms:—

Hundreds of honest, sincero wage.earners aro pleading with tho SocialDeraocrAtic Party to effect an unholy alliance to oust tho .Massey Government. The Libera! Party is composed of squatters, solicitors, barristers, brewers, publicans, financiers — in short, all tho worst class of exploiters who wax fat and accumulate riches out of tho sweat of the workers.

. . . Their interests are diametrically opposed to the interests of the workers, and an alliance with them would result in disaster to the Labour movement. The Liberal-Labour alliance of 1890 travelled for t\\enty-three years in a circle, and landed back at its startingpoint last year. Surely tho workers will never consent to take another silly trip round the samo course.

The description of the "Liberal" Party in this appeal is severe; but much must bo allowed to an ardent Social Democrat alarmed for tho independence of his party. His "fellow-progressives" will tell him. of course, .that he is presumptuous aud ungrateful—that Labour was ordained to hew and draw for the "Liberals," and must be content with its lot. They aro not interested in Labour or in tho Social-Democrats, excepting as-pawns *n their game. Nobody can deny the right of tho Warditeparty to woo the Social Democrats, or tho right of their principal organiser to attend and speak at Red Fed. gatherings like that reported from Wellington to-day; but other peoplo must claim the right to notice what is going on.