THE NEW EVANGEL. WHAT THE LIBERAL PARTY WANTS. "GET BACK TO FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES." MR. FOWLDS INTERVIEWED. [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 63, 12 September 1911, Page 7

THE NEW EVANGEL. WHAT THE LIBERAL PARTY WANTS. "GET BACK TO FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES." MR. FOWLDS INTERVIEWED. [BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr. G. Fowlds, M.P., on his arrival from Wellington, was asked if he thought his withdrawal from the Government meant the emergence of .a, new party. He replied that he hoped that would not be necessary. He would like to see A reorganisation of the Liberal Party on a more democratic basis. They could not brush aside the traditions and achievements of the Liberal Party of New Zealand without great and lasting loss to the people of thfa country, but a party could not live on traditions and the name label alone. There was a danger of the party, after long yeara of prosperity and dominance, losing sight of its fundamental principles. The adhesion of people , attracted by hope of gain instead of by 10-ve of principle had a paralysing effect on a, pa#ty. Parties might adhere to names/ while they entirely reversed their prinI cipfee. Mr. Massey and the Opposition j were advocating one or two progressive reforms, and under a new leader might easily step in and I'eav.e the Liberal Party side-tracked, What was wanted was to get back to the fundamental principles formulated by Grey and Ballance, founders of the Liberal Party, which were capable of almoa*. indefinite extension and would solve many of - our pressing social problems. Some of hie enemies had been dangling the old bogies of Single-tax and Freetrade. The new evangel which the Liberal Party needed did not necessarily include either Single-tax or Freetrade a* many people understood these name.*, but di^ necessarily include increased land v value taxation and further remission of th« duties on the necessaries of life.