SEVERE CRITICISM LIBERALS WHO VOTED WITH THE REFORM PARTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1912, Page 3

SEVERE CRITICISM LIBERALS WHO VOTED WITH THE REFORM PARTY.

[UK TfILEORAfH — BPKCIAL TO -THIS FO3T.J AUCKLAND, This Day. The Star deals severely with the Liberal members who deserted their party in the recent divi«iou. It «ays :—: — "According to Messrs. Reed, Coates, and T. W. Rhodes, their chief interest has all along been the freehold, which they were determined under any circumstances to support, and they contend that, believing this to be imperilled by the Ministry ac now constituted, they were conscientiously compelled to desert the Liberal Party. But surely it must strike even the gentlemen who issued this "Apologia" that it comes rather late in the day. Are we seriously expected to believe that this eleventhhour'* resolve to vote for Mr. Maseey is consistent witli the profession of ,faith which Messrs. Reed, Coates, and T. W. Rhodes submitted to their constituencies before the last election? Mr. Reed now assure* us that his fears about the freehold and his 6ense of duty to Mr. Maesey sprang into being ac soon as he heard of the proposed constitution of the Ministry, but this argument is destroyed at once by the pledge that Mr. Mackenzie gave to leave the construction of the Cabinet to the party after the division. Moreover, Mr. Reed's action at the party caucus, three months ago, was largely responsible for the election of Mr. T. Mackenzie as leader of the party. In our opinion, the three gentlemen who are so exercised about the freehold would have consulted better their personal and political reputations if their scruples on this interesting question had played a more prominent part in their professions of Liberalism in December fast. But as to Messrs. R. M'Kenzie, Millar, and Clark, these gentlemen may be congratulated on their discretion in refraining from any attempt at self-defence, for there is absolutely nothing to be said for them."