THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17609, 11 November 1922, Page 10

THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

CURIOUS INCIDENT AT AUCKLAND. MR WILFORD AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

(SPECIAL TO " THE PRESS.") AUCKLAND, November 10. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) was guilty of an amazing omission when he appeared in support of Mr W. Noton, who is the Opposition candidate for Parnell, last night, and was subjected to some pointed questions, which he hardly disposed of satisfactorily. | In the course of a brief speech, the Opposition Leader said the Liberal Party stood for the old flag planted bySir Geo. Grey, carried on by Ballance and Seddon, and held, perhaps feebly, by himself. At a later stage in the meeting a member of the audieuce, having evidently digested Mr Wilford's romarks regarding Sir George Grey, Ballance, Seddon, and himself, asked Mr Noton why the Liberal Party was silent when there was talk of Sir | Joseph Ward contesting a seat. Mr Noton said he considered that was a matter for the Leader of the party. The questioner then asked Mr Wilford to answer the question. Mr Wilford: We do not shriek if he wants to stand. If ho wants to stand h.e stands. The questioner: Whv was the Liberal Party silent? Mr Wilford: A man has a right to ot|Bid if he wants to. We do not shriek if he wants to stand. *v?°"i. ay ,' 8 " Horal <V in referring to this little episode, says: "The questioner who asked at Green Lane last night why the Liberal Party was silent wnen Sir Joseph Ward was asked to stand for a South Island constituency, achieved as his only result a stimulation of the euriositv which had existed in the minds of manv people £? * ,5* JW* Jt is common talk that Mr Wilford claims to be the successor of past leaders, from ■ Sir George Grey to Eichard John Seddon. After the name of Seddon is mentioned he stops short. There mav be a blank space in his memory, blotting out the history of his partv from 1906 to the time when the mantle of leadership fell upon his own shoulders. Medical men recognise such curious freaks of memory. When, in addressing .his own constituents a few days S* 1 the Opposition dil- , atedupon the glories of the partv and

any mention of Sir Joseph Ward w» conspicuously absent,- it night hirt seemed an oversight. The tmtt M gave to the question last night » Green Lane, and his dedaratton at Devonport that "Back to 8«& M must be the motto for the bine to show that the loss of » JW of his notes or any such »«««" mishap at Petone could not imW& the cause of the omission. *»« Leader and party can adopt M» * carelessly detached attitude towarflW man who, whatever the cause faithfully in the past, HR sented New Zealand W l Hb "xs with dignity and distinction, ana fh» enjoys I reputation for abMy a * . high order, how can » •9"*"J country to discern in it the homog* ity and accord requisiteto■ ntag life control of the affair, of the «JJ try! Mr Wilford should ««»«« that an exceptional » 9 »«y» names and faces * Prime Minister. iMr Seddon MMJ Sir Joseph Ward had it, » «TO has it, Mr Wilford apparentg £» it. Lacking that, he FjJJj«5 ah other impalpable but tricutes of office. Apart. J» speculations, the question he *» ed at Green Lane one. It was a quMtMm certainly answer more definite* fore he leaves the province.