THE LIBERAL CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 8

THE LIBERAL CAMP

"SOLID, HAPPY FAMILY"

MR. WILFORD ON THE NEW PARTY.

According to Mr? T. M. Wilford, "Leader-of the Opposition, Who returned this morning from the South Island, the leader, of the new political party, mentioned by the "Southland News" recently, ,is :Mr. V. J. Rolleston, Reform member for. Timaru. Speaking of the LiberalLaliour Party to-day, .Mr. Wilford said:

■■-We are solid, and as happy a family as ever worked in political life. All' sire accounted for, and all are staunch and true.

"I had a splendid meeting at Waiinate, a district which for many years returned Sir William Steward, a "Lib-eral,..-to Parliament," remarked Mr. V/ilford to a "I'ost" representative. "Over 450: electors, on a cold, bitter night,- turned out to hear me, and, at the conclusion of my address passed a vote of confidence in our party and in myself, .with three dissentients. I was then entertained in the evening, when all present formed themselves into a committee to organise the. district for. our side and finding the necessary finance'spontaneously, so that the organisation'.caii be properly carried out. It was a,great meeting.

"I found in the Reform papers a splendid energy against myself. 1 bought, every paper I could find known to be Reform, and, without exception, they are working hard against me. I think I may certainly say that our party .is well on its feet.

"The "Southland News,' which has just caused such a sensation by an article against myself and Sir Joseph "Ward, opened by demolishing the Prime Minister previous to the article against myself, and, metaphorically wiped him off the political map, and then, having disposed of him, started to try to settle me as Leader of the Liberal-Labour Party in order to clear the decks for a new party. The man they propose to lead the ' "new party in New Zealand, which at ' "present is not in. existence and has no .being, is Mr.' Frank Rolleston, Reform member for Timaru, so that all the Reform papers have misfired, in that it is not my party which is depleted of a member, but the Reform Party. We are solid and as happy a family as ever worked in political life. All are accounted for, and all are staunch and true. "Aftsr the 'Southland News' flew its kite, .the Reform newspapers seixed the 'Southland News' article, twisted and turned it about until little of the original story remained, and will wake up in a few days to find that they have been hitting Reform, and not the Liberal Party. It is certainly the best political mistake of an organisation for years.

"In Dunedin,. 1 met the executive of our organisation, at which, meeting the Hon. J. A. Hanan attended on behalf of Invercargill, and we settled the lines upon which organisation should take place for Dunedin city, for Chalmers, and. Mataura—the only, two seats held by Reform > outside the city of Dunedin down South, for it must be remembered that. Reform has only one seat in Dunedin :city, which will be attacked by our party. Candidates for the Hon. Mr. JJownie Stewart's seat and Chalmers are in sight, .but they must be selected locally • before being approved by our party. ' "Generally, in regard to" the South Island, there is no Reform seat which is invulnerable; there is no Reform constituency in which the Liberals have not a; chance of beating Reform, and there are at least five seats in the South Island, which Reform has little chance of holding. I have no doubt, after my tour through the North, and the evidence that was given me during the last week in. the. South, that we can claim in the near future a return to power of the Liberal-Labour Party." While in Dunedin on Thursday Mr Wilford was the guest of the Rotary Club, where he delivered an address on Japan and America, which Botarian Hutcheson, the editor of the "Otago P.aily Times." characterised as informative and instructive, and as opening a viewpoint oii the situation which he Was sure was unknown to any Rctarian present in the room.

Asked whether he was surprised at the defeat of General Smuts. Mr. Wili'ord, in reply, handed to the "Post" representative a card on which was written the name of Senator the Hon. V. \Vhit.eside, J.P.. of Johannesburg, which Mr. Wilford said was ' given him in Kioto, Japan, when he met Mr. Whiteside there. "Mr. Whiteside stated that although General Smuts . was a great •Imperialist and an able man," said Mr. u'ilford, "he was a stern, uncompromising officer whoj after earning .. great laurels at Home and taking part in big affairs, was to-day autocratic and unapproachable, and that he would not lie surprised if he sought the electors at any time to find that ho had lost his seat."