LIBERAL PARTY’S ATTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 121, 7 February 1923, Page 6

LIBERAL PARTY’S ATTITUDE

DECLINES TO WORK WITH REFORM CLINGS TO IDENTITY PIOUS PROFESSIONS REPEATED MR. WILFORD RE-ELECTED LEADER “The caucus of the Liberal-Labour Party held yesterday and to-day was marked with enthusiasm and good feeling,” stated Mr. T. M. AVilford, Leader of the party, to a Dominion representative last night. “It was recognised,” he said, “that the recent elections had revealed a great increase of Liberal sentiment throughout the Dominion, and a corresponding weakening of the Reform: Party’s hold on the electorates. .Reports from north and south showed that a wave of feeling favourable to the Liberal-Lab-our Party had undoubtedly set in. Generous offers of help in organisation work were (being received from ti’l quarters, and Liberal-Labour associations. comprising sound young New Zealand elements, were springing up in ah directions. The support received in the country electorates from small farmers was reminiscent of the early days of the Liberal Party, when John McKenzie launched his land settlement scheme. Within the: ranks of the present Parliamentary representatives of the party the meetings revealed happy relations and a note of unity that augur well for its future course.”

THE OFFICIAL REPORT The official report of the caucus cf the party is as follows: —“Tim members took ibis the first opportunity since the elections of complimenting Mr. Wilford on the great work he had done for the Liberal-Labour cause during tire contest. “It was admitted” (said the Hon. D. Buddo. the mover of the resolutions appearing hereunder) “that. Mr. Wilford had made. good as lender,' and that there was ‘ample, evidence _of growing confidence in the districts where the necessities of the campaign had taken him in his capacity to lead the partv.” The following resolutions were nasn’d unanimously, on the motion cf the Hon. Mr, "Buddo, seconded by Mr. G. W. Forbes : — That Air. T. M. Wilford’s leadership of the Liberal-Labour Party he confirmed, and that the members of the party record their full confidence in him as leader, and pledge themselves to loyally support him as such. That this the first caucus of the Liberal-Labour Party held since the general election declares its hearty and sincere appreciation qf the services its leader, Air. T. AL AVilford, rendered to the party in the recent election, congratulates him on the sp'endid effort made, and the rpsults obtained, and wishes him good health and success in his political future. The meeting fully considered the attitude of the party in relation to the position which has arisen as n consequence of the elections- Among other matters the resolutions passed by the caucus of the llcfoinn Party early in January, in which suggestions for a re-alignment of were thrown out, were reviewed. The following resolutions were unanimously carried :— That the Liberal-Labour Party declares for the maintenance of. its identity' as a distinct party, initiating. promulgating, and*actively supporting the princip.es of true Liberalism as the real interests of the peopleThat the Liberal-Labour Party declares that so long as the Reform Party continues to represent and to be mainly influenced by the owners of large vested interests, the large landowners, and the controllers of the monopolies of Now Zealand, the opposition of the Liberal-Labour Party to the same will be vigorously maintained. , The Liberal-Labour Party declares its continued sympathy with the genuine aspirations of the wage-earners for improved economic 1 conditions and the achievement of the same by constitutional means, but emphasises its continued opposition to ah extreme revolutionary proposals.

It is stated that Air. H. Poland (Ohineniuri) did not attend the caucus.