REFORM AND LIBERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 6 October 1922, Page 4

REFORM AND LIBERAL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondents "Moderate" and "Liberal Diehard" are wrangling over the question of an arrangement between Liberal and Reform for the coming campaign. Both are arguing from the Liberal point of view, though the differences between them are'very obvious. The remarkable thing is the open manner in which Liberals are now talking of an arrangement with Reform. Yet it is only a matter of weeks since the Liberals. were negotiating for an arrangement with Labour. Clearly a party which can to-day negotiate with Labour and to-morrow with Reform can really stand for no definite principles at all. The recent advances towards Labour were rejected, and rightly rejected, and indeed_ almost resented, because of the general feeling that the Liberals had in reality a stronger leaning towards Reform than towards Labour. A party which in the interests of self-preservation is equally ready to come to terms with either Labour or Reform has. hardly enough independence left to enable it to even act as a decent buffer between these two parties. Indeed, not until it ceases to function as an active political force will the electors again be able to face clear cut issues. Yet lit is is reported that Mr. Veitch, at a recent Liberal gathering in Hawera, said: "We (the Liberals) must let Massey have it between the eyes with one fist and Holland have it between the eyes with the other fist." The party, in attempting to maintain what it imagines is- a moderate attitude, - in reality cuts a very sorry figure upon the political stage. So far from the Liberals being determined to "let Massey have it between the eyes with one fist," it is now clear that Liberals are prepared to defend Massey from the blow which Labour is trying to "let hhn have between the eyes" (to use" the words of this bellicose Liberal). If Liberals really desire to see Massey "get it between the eyes" why do they seek to ward off the blow Labour is trying to inflict? If Liberals really desire to see Holland "get it between the eyes" why do they not accord their full support to Mr. Ifassey, to whom Labour always looks for hard knocks "between the eyes"? Will Mr. Corrigan please explain? —I am, etc., LABOUR. I