"A GLOOMY OUTLOOK"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 10

"A GLOOMY OUTLOOK"

LIBERALISM IN AUCKLAND A DYING CAUSE By Teleeraph.—Special Correspondent. Auckland, December 14. The Li'beral lender hits come and ,gone. His supporters naturally mado the most of his visit from » spectacular point of view, but the demonstration it evoked was not very impressive, and Sir Joseph Ward's speech will not do much to brighten the gloomy outlook for Liberalism in Auckland. It is now generally admitted that the Liberals have lost Auckland West. 11' the Reform candidate is beaten it will not be by the opposition nominee, but by labour. Auckland East is slipping from Mr. Myers's grasp. The big majority to his credit at the last election will cortninly vanish. He and Air. Clutha Mackenzie are now racing strido for stride up the stra'ght. and competent judges are already proclaiming victory for Reform. The situation at Roskill js rather peculiar. In summing up the position, the Liberal journal uiakos no reference to th» Liberal candidate, and wobbles between supporting tho Labour eatul'd-t • and Mr.' Giirison (n'otwithstn<p.t the tact that a cablegram has just lwen received from him announcing ihat he will vote with tho Reform Party on a , r.o-confidenee motion}! Mr. Gunson's candidature has not, howwer, aroused any enthusiasm, niul tho chance" of the otlicial Reform candidate,' Mr. Potter, are better than those of any of his I'pponcnls. • Wlien the numbers go up it may be found that Auckland Central will ho the only Liberal constituency in Auckland city and suburbs. The fact that Sir Joseph Ward was given an enthusiastic reception by an 'audience which on Friday afternoon crowded the Town Hall Concert Chamber (which holds about 900 people) is regarded by the Auckland "Star" a-; a tremendous triumph for Liberalism. The "Slur" declares that this wonderful achievement disproves the statement of your correspondent that the Liberals are losing faith in their" cms?, and that Auckland audiences absolutely refuse to get enthusiastic about Liberalism. The "Star" attempts to revive the drooning spirits of the Wardists by assuring them Iha't the "banner of Liberalism" is si ill "proudly waving." It goes into ecstoeics over the fact that tho hall was crowded, and Sir Josoph Ward applauded. For Fomo reason best known to its?lf. the "Star" docs not give the same rapturous detail regarding the size of the audience which greeted the Liberal leader at the evenine meeting held at Devnnfort. ."yd it simnly states that it was ''T:i\c;o." Tnr> "Herald" explaiiw the reticence of its contemporary, i>!fo™iin!> n»- tint "the hall was barely filled," and iliat the aiKliinc? "was not over demonstrative." • The. BDirifc of enthusiar-m cen.-e-i by tho | arrival of Sir Joseph Ward api!?«rs to j '•live dickered with a suddenness which must be discouraging to his supporters. No one begrudges the<n whatever comfort t.liey can find in the thought that 90il- of 'the Liberal elect "loudly anplauded" the Liberal leader, but it is none the less true that the power of Literalism i.« rapidly waning in Auckland, and that during the present election Opposition Candida tea hayo bven c:tnsp:cv ously unable to roiwe their audiences to entli'usitv-m oyer the • promises or performanccs of piwcnt-day Liberal.si'.i. Mr. I'oole, in moving a vole of thaTKs to Sir Joseph Ward, admitted, that etaliMn is in bod health. The cure he wn« "an infusion of- now blood," biit most. people here think C'at New Zealand Literalism .is incumb.y worn ou(, and that it shon'd now be allowed to dio a natural death.