THE LEADERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 143, 15 December 1919, Page 11

THE LEADERS

MR. MASSEY AT PAEROA

LIBERALS AND LABOUR

(il TEIEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 14th December.

In the course of an address at Paeroa last night, the Prime Minister gave some j evidence of the efforts that had been made during the course of the election, campaign to bring about in certain parts of the Dominion an alliance between the Liberal and Labour Parties. He read a letter'addressed to the Itov. Mr. Broome, candidate for Waitomo, from Mr T. Taylor, president, and Mr. W. Kershaw, vice-president, of the Waitara Freezing ..Works Union, giving - the text of a resolution carried at a committee meeting of the union, in which it was resolved to ask Mr. Broome to withdraw from the contest in the best interests of both the Labour and Liberal parties, as it was tho opinion of the union that the Labour and Liberal votes, if split, would place th? Reform candidate at the head of the poll, " thus defeating the aim of both the Liberal and Labour Parties." The letter was endorsed by Mr. W. F. Jenkins, chairman 'of the Liberal committee at Waitara, as follows: —" And I endorse the above" and agree with the opinion expressed."

Continuing, Mr. Massey quoted the declaration of Mr. Holland, leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, at Westport, to the effect that " he hoped the Labour"Party would come back from the elections as the constitutional Opposition, but if it did not, and Sir Joseph Ward moved a vote of no-confidence, the Labour Party would join with him in ousting Mr. Massey; but it would not support Sir Joseph Ward unless he enacted legislation the Labour Party was fighting for." '

Further, a Press Association telegram on 10th November from Ha-wera stated: "In response to a deputation representing Liberal and Labour interests, Mr. M'Neill (Labour) has agreed to withdraw his name as a candidate for the Patea seat to allow Mr. Morrison (Opposition) a clear field." In Oamaru.the Labour Party had adopted a Liberal candidate; in Wallace the Labour candidate had withdrawn in favour of an Opposition candidate; in Temuka a meeting was recently held attended by representatives of the Liberal and Labour Parties, with the result ithat the extreme Labour candidate had been withdrawn in favour of the Liberal candidate. Mr Massey also quoted a statement made by Mr. Hiram Hunter, one of the Labour leaders in Christchurch, and candidate for Avon, i-> the effect that the Liberal Party "will never again be able-.to form a Government without the support of, organised Labour."

In conclusion, Mr. Massey drew attention to.tho statement publicly made by tho.HonyG. in Auckland as follows:. "On a no-confidence motion I would vote against Mr. Massey with any party, Labour or Liberal, and take my chance as to the qualityjand. the calibre of the Government I should get to succeed Mr. Massey " The Prime Minister stated thafc^it was quite evident that Mr. Fowlds, who had been a. prominent member in Sir Joseph Ward's Government, would cooperate wjth extreme Labour, and he a-ppealed strongly to the electors to place State before party md prevent an unholy ' combination preventing a strong and stable Government being returned to office.