THE OPPOSITION PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 9

THE OPPOSITION PARTY

. MR WILFOPvD’S VISIT.

Air T. M. Wilford, Leader of the United Progressive Liberal-Labor Party (whose title it is recognised, must be sliorteiied) arrived ia Dunedin by to-day s express from the north. _ , r When an interviewer waited on AH Wilford and the party s Whip, Mr G. W. Porbes M.P., in Christchurch (states the < Sun lie found the two men closeted, with ’phones buzzing and correspondence mounting up—in fact, displaying all ■ o indications that movement is the keynote of the Liberal band. Information was meagre, however, as the campaign has not sufficiently progressed for definite statements to be made as to planks, Candida,tures, and the multitude of other things that go with a political campa^J-i. In the last few weeks Air \\ iiford _ has had a strenuous time, Auckland especially occupying a great deal of his attention. Air Wilford showed every courtesy to the interviewer, but he absolutely declined to let loose any information. “ I must not bo interviewed,” said Mr Wilford. “ Not yet, I am merely here on an organising tour of the South Island. So far it lias been most satisfactory. I have just been to Blenheim, and I expect to be here until Thursday. Then I will leave for Dunedin, Invercargill, and other places in all probability.” Mr Wilford proved adamant to every lead that the interviewer gave him. He would not speak “party,” except in mere generalities. “ I can say that I have had a reassuring visit to Auckland,” he said. “ I am having as good a visit to Christchurch, 1 have been here a day and ahalf, and I can assure you that I have had difficulty in finding enthusiastic Reformers.”

Between telephone rings Mr Wilford, smiling, said that ho intended to pave the way for Liberal organisation before the session commenced, so that the wheels* would be in good working order before the elections, lie had decided not to make any speeches in Christchurch at the present juncture, but probably before the session he would speak to the public. At present there was a great deal of work to be done in connection with preliminary organisation for the big political contest at the end of the year. “Probable candidates?” ventured the interviewer. But Air Wilford was dumb. The future might bring forth much.

MR WILFORD’S CANTERBURY OPTIMISM.

f Special xo thz ‘Stak.’l

CHRISTCHURCH, March 16.

Mr T 31. Wllford is delighted with tho reception ho has had in Christchurch. “I always knew,” ha told a ‘Times’ reporter, “that the Conservative Party had little or no hold on this cityj but I never realised until this visit, macle in an official capacity, tho strength of tho opposition to the present Government. It is keen and alert. Everywhere I have found readiness and willingness to assist mo in every section of the community. The formation of an organisation hero was sim» plicity itself, and the meetings which I have already held for the forming of a working organisation for the coming elections have been marked by enthusiasm and earnestness. Tho old Libera! organisation, which has not been functioned for soma time, only required calling together to become a real force, I have visited, with Mr Forbes, the Senior Whip of the parts, _ the suburbs of Christchurch, and have interviewed those likely to assist in our work of organisation, and have met

with tho readiest response on all sides. There may be .many supporters of Mr Massey in Christchurch, I do not deny it; but I do state that such supporters do not make themselves evident, nor do they evince any readiness to show their color's to-day. There are probably good reasons for thin. I was much struck with tho tono of tho business section of the community, those with whom I discussed tho political situation expressing themselves ns only waiting tho opportunity to bring about a change of Government. I shall return to Christchurch to meet the organisation already constituted after laying tho foundation of a good organisation in tho south.