LIBERAL PARTY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16945, 21 September 1920, Page 6

LIBERAL PARTY.

SIGNS OF DISINTEGRATION.

INDEPENDENT SUB-SECTIONS,

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.")

n ELLINGTON. September 20. Those who follow the trend of politics 1- in the capital while Parliament is sitn ting arc- asking just now if Mr T. M. ilford -is really the Leader of the cj Opposition, because there is disruption ill his party. He certainly is not the, } ' Leadef of the total number 01" the prc- - sent House who are opoosed to the Government, and it would, perhaps, be more correct to call him the Leader of the roir.ains of the Liberal Party. It is being freely stated here that the s meeting which elected the new Leader e was attended by only ton members of s tho party, and that the meeting was > not unanimous. Mr Witty wanted Mr j Sidey as Leader, but Mr Sidev declined nomination. It is further stated that there is some objection to Mr Wilford. because in 1912„ in reply to a question : os to his attitude, he said he was "soft : pedalling," while in 1911 he was independent. It is stated that after Mr | - Sidev refused nomination, two of the l i> ten Liberals present left tho room, so that the final selection of a leader was ; 7 left to only eight of the old stalwarts. | , There has been such a hiving-off from j the partv, that Mr Wilford can count ' J upon only about a dozen straight-out j followers. Messrs McCallum, Witty, Poland, and Vigor Brown seem to be nctjnc, in concert; Messrs Veitch, S. G. f Smith, and Kellett, form another little 1 group, who may be classed as Independent Labour; while Messrs Statham and Mitchell, who Were "soloists" at tiie commencement of the session, seem j now to be endeavouring to form a quintet, if they have not already dono L so. Mr Craigie was not at all happy ; in the Liberal camp, and he is "out. on . his own." Messrs Hanan and Atmore I are Independent, but Dr. Tliacker . would, no doubt, he generally found supporting Mr Wilford. The staunchest VVilfordites. appoar to bo Messrs j Sidev Forbes, Tsitt, Seddon, Edie, \ ilorn, R. W. Smith, Ngatn, Masters, j and Jennings, but Mr Wilford cannot j altogether count upon Mr Masters, be--1 cause he is not pledged, and Mr Jen--1 ning is often to be seen voting with Mr Massey. ( Eiforts are being made by certain ' members to bring some of these jndependen-" coteries to'gether, and it is alleged that some success has attended ' the efTort, but it is somewhat prema- ■ ture to say what will bo the ultimate position. Mr Massey, on the other hand, has a pretty solid and capable team behind 1 him, and can count on 45 or 46 votes for certain. Onlv two or three mem--1 bers of his party show a disposition to kick over tho traces, but it is understood that thev are pledged to the Re--1 form Party on a no-confidence division. 1 It is quite , evident, therefore, that Mr ■ Massey has nothing to fear in the present Parliament, unless something veryunexpected happens, and he is so confident of his position in the country, that he would not at all mind a general election at any moment- One member who was returned as an Independent at the last general election—Mr Downie Stewart —who has a considerable inflnenee in the House because of his clear thinking and his general ability and common-sense, may bo counted unon.to vote with Mr Massov on practically any no-confidence amendment likely to be moved because he. like so many others, including former staunch T-'borals out- • side the House, recognises that at the present time a strong Government is the dominant need of the country.