THE NEW LIBERALS.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 9 August 1905, Page 5

THE NEW LIBERALS.

THEIR RETURN TO WELLINGTON. INTERVIEW WITH MR. FISHER. CONFIDENT AND DETERMINED. j _—_ Inis morning the New Liberals, Messrs. T. E. Taylor, F. M. B. Fisher, G. Laurenson, and H. D. Bedford, M.H.R.'s, returned' to Wellington from their stormy campaign in the South. When seen in the House by a Post reporter this morning they -were all particularly cheerful. Mr. Laurenson shows signs of wear, but the others, especially Mr. Taylor, appeared refreshed by their tumultuous holiday. The Premier's action in bringing on the Estimates yesterday, and getting rid of theT ''all-round discussion" permitted on the first item, lias made the future action, of the Party uncertain. As the member most immediately concerned, Mr. Fisher talked to our representative of the Party's tour and his own intentions. With respect to the rowdy meeting at thelDunedin Garrison Hall on Thursday laatV Mr. Fisher stated that the meeting, when it started at 8 o'clock, was full of good intentions. Five minutes afterwards, however, tho doors were- -burst open, and an unruly mob of 400 or 500 rushed in and proceeded to take possession of affairs. They successfully held the floor for the rest of the evening, and the meeting was abandoned. "The meeting in Christchurch on Monday night," said Mr. Fisher, "was.unquestionably the most enormous political meeting ever held in. Canterbury. Before 7 o'clock the Canterbury Hall was densely packed, and people outside were offering all sorts of prices to gain an entrance. There were 3500 in the Hall, and about 5000 outside, and though tho meeting lasted until nearly 11 o'clock those outside waited patiently for four hours listening to the various speakers as they came out on the balcony. Unfortunately there were in the crowd 30 or 40 young" fellows who were determined to prevent anyone being heard. With this exception, the people were welldisposed to the members. The reception that they gave Mr. Taylor can only be described as a great personal triumph." As to the tone of public feeling in the South : "At every point on our ■way down," said Mr. Fisher, "we met with undisguised hostility, but in point of fact the opposition -we met with ultimately proved to bo of benefit to us, as it awakened a great .public curiosity. After we publicly announced that we weie still confident that the attitude I •had taken in regard to the now famous voucher would be justified 4a the long run, public opinion gradually changed, and the hostility -with which we were greeted on the way down was turned •to curiosity on 'the way -back, and we found everywhere- an intense eagerness to know what course we were going to take on out return to Wellington." "And that course?" f " I hope to 'be able this afternoon to placo such documentary evidence in pos- j session of the House as will lead to a universal demand for an enquiry. If we find that the forms of the House preclude us from taking the proper course of action to-day, the puiblic may rest aa- ' sur-ed that we shall take the earliest opportunity to bring the matter before the House." It was here pointed out to 'Mr. Fisher that it had been suggested that the Premier's action yesterday in bringing on the Estimates as they had not been Brought on before had been taken with 'the object of frustrating *he intention of the New Liberals as stated in the South. " I am not prepared to say that that is so," /aid Mr. Fisher. " I can only (repeat, as I reiterated in the South, that public opinion at any rate will be compelled to admit that no public man having in his .possession the information I possessed could -have failed to take the course -I have taken up to the present. It might be eaid, and with some show of reason, that I could have succeeded in my object t>y taking 6ome other action, but my information , was such "that it .was impossible for me even to seek advice as to the course I should take. Now, however, my way is clear. I have a duty to perform, and I am going to perform it."