Mr Wilford’s Tour.

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 4

Mr Wilford’s Tour.

It is an unostentatious political tour which has brought Mr Wilford .as far as Dunedin, It must bo many years since a Leader of the Opposition travelled with so little regard for crowds and advertisement. 'Hie man who is his party’s hope has made no appeals from platforms, though Mr Wilford can “tickle the cars of the groundlings” as well as the best when he is that way minded. iNo manifestos have .enlivened the newspapers. lie has oven shown an averseness from interviews, which comes strangely from Mr Wilford. One or two ho has given, but they have been more distinguished by restraint and caution than the vigor that might be expected from one who hopes in due course to bring down the wails of the Government’s citadel by the noise of his party’s shouting. The explanation of so much quietness is that Oils is a preparatory tour. Mr Wilford is nob ready yet to commence his campaign against the Government. He is like one who prepares for hostilities.to come by building up the strength of garrisons or sowing mines beforehand, and that work is done usually with the least publicity. Tly pomp and circumstance of political warfare, the hoisting of standards and appeals to the multitude to join them, explanations* of the cause which they must join, the sounding challenges and assurances of certain, overwhelming victory which both sides arc accustomed to issue before a conflict—all that will come later

in due course. That Mr Wilford and his chief lieutenant should ride now

Like mutes, all dumb, No jangling scabbards, tapping drum, can be understood by those who will bo belligerents when the battle is joined, though they might wish for a more oxcitting progress. Wo are not sure ourselves that the quietness of Mr Wilford's tour has not been overdone. It is not an enemy’s .country which he is traversing. This Leader of tho Opposition has distinct gifts for the. platform, and many would bo glad to see and hear him there. If ’the policy of his own reorganised party is not sufficiently complete to be announced at length, there is ample scope in the . Government’s shortcomings to afford a. subject for his eloquence. A political address would make variety in those dull times, and it should give room for thoughts that need awakening. If Mr Wilford should reconsider his programme and decide to give an address in Dunedin, wo have small doubt that ho would bo satisfied with his audience. In tho brief interviews which lie has accorded ho has seemed to lay undue stress on tho newness of his party, making need- for more quiet spade work before publicity. But is the party, after ail, so" now? Tim Liberal Party, which forms its main strength, ia well and honorably enough known to New Zealanders. Mr Wilford cun appeal to its past record and the part 'which it should play in future politics without any fear of dealing with matters which would not ho understood 1 by his hearers. Ihe fact that Mr Statham, Mr Kellett, and Mr Yeitch have been added to the parliamentary strength of that party, or of Hie main portion of it which Mr Wilford commands, makes no real submergence of its identity. It is a- pity, we believe, that it should have been allowed even to cause the submergence of its name in such a ridiculous compound as the good sense of electors is bound to abridge, if the executive of the party does not abridge it for them. If a brief name is wanted that will appeal to electors, no better one can bo found than that of Liberal Party. We know no reason why it should be thought impossible for the glories of that name to be revived. Liberalism was defeated at tho last election; but it was not destroyed. The worst evil which it has had to suffer has been tho dissensions of its members in the House. The big majority which Bo tom enjoys in Parliament should not disguise the fact that the support accorded to it when last it sought the suffrages of the electors was no more than a minority vote, and it is past belief that Reform has more friends to-day than it bad three years ago. Its name is sufficiently a misnomer, since it has shown no more than the ordinary inclination to reform itself; and the bureaucratic tendencies which have become its passion with the growth of power make a natural evil for Liberalism to oppose. Not the worst name for Mr Milford’s followers at tho next election will be the Opposition Party, since, if there is one thing of which the electors are convinced, it is that4ho existing majority which Air Massey controls is too largo to be healthy. But to put Mr Wilford in Mr Massey’s place might require more courage from them. Hard times are ahead in the next few years, and those must always place a premium on experience and proved sagacity in leaders. Yet it is rare for any Government to survive long first a war, andl then a period of retrenchment. Someone must succeed Mr Massey in the not distant future. Is Mr Wilford qualified to be that man? It is his task to convince the electors that he is. He cannot begin his public campaign too soon.