MR. WILFORD'S POSITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1912, Page 8

MR. WILFORD'S POSITION

ELECTORS GIVE • HIM A FREE c HAND. - Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., at the reJjeption given in iris honour at ■ Upper Hutt- last ©Yening, gave -no indication of what coarse he would pursue when it came to the vote on the no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives. He did, in fact, touch only briefly on New Zealand politics. " I want tosay,*' fie said, "that I have been asked hunIreds of times since I came back , this Question : ' How are you going 'on the' no-confidence vote?* But I have replained silent, and will continue so tonight. Why? you ask. Well, I will tell fou. The Government that at present exists has, never ..given to the eomrtry its final and definite policy, and .until the Governor's Speech next Thursday we will rtot know what it is. Now, you cannot expect me to pledge myself to a Government of whose policy I am not aware. I have been in- politics too long for that, |nd I have served nnder too many Pro(oiers. When I hear the speech it will fee time enough for me to "say whether I will run along with them or" sail una er gnother banner. At any rate, I ai.i J*ady to fight for the right* of the 1 , people. I think I have served my apprenticeship, and I am now better equipped both mentally 'and physically So serve you than I have* ever been before. I have my mind made up; I know my policy, and if I was called to the head of a party to-morrow — say, a Jbung New Zealand Party, whose motto would be *For New Zealand*- 1 could formulate that policy within twenty-four i^oras. I think I hold your confidence sufficiently to be given a free hand. I Piink a change of some sort must occur in this country, and it needs a. -strong coan to bring us out to what we ought \k> be. Changes are necessary." ?; At the conclusion of the speech, -.Mr. BSTilliam Brown, moved the following motion: "That we, the electors of the Butt district/ de&ire to express our entire confidence in Mr. Wilford's judgment,' and beg to assure Mm that we unhesitatingly extend to Mm a free hand in the course he may take in the coming political struggle. This was seconded by Mr. P. Davis, and carried amidst spplause. Mr. Wilford said he wished to heartily thank the assembly for passing such a motion, wMch meant a great deal to him. " Members oi Parliament will be surprised when they read that tomorrow," he said, "and see that I have been, given an absolutely free hand. It will make things more interesting from titeir viewpoint." Three cheers were then given, for Mr. Wilford. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Daring the short cession in February the Hon. James M'Gowan^ 'since deceased, represented the Government in the Upper House. This eesson the Hon. 0. oamuel will represent the Government in a similar capacity.