THE LIBERAL PARTY.

Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 286, 21 November 1918, Page 2

THE LIBERAL PARTY.

—— — *#!* —-.----— PROPOSAL TO UNITE WITH IIISFOKM PARTY.

OPPOSED BY-M7.1 H. G. ELL, M.P

Discussing the pi'oposal to unit© the liiberal and Reform parties, Air H. G. Eli, M.P., stated to a Christchurcn reportier that ho would oppose union with the Reform party or any other party. H© expressed a belief thai his view was shared by the great majority -of .Liberal members in Parliament. "The fusion," ho said, "would be an irretrievable mistake. It would be an } injustice to tjie long line of electors' who have loyally suppoi-ted the splendid reforms advocated LlTfcraT | party from Sir dwy's cam*a?-"_ in: 187? to recent time?. Sir George Grej^'e .speeches show that no down many principles ior retorni in the conditions of the people. One of his earliest declarations was for a free breakfast table. The Liberal party made it free. Sir Gorge Grey, in his first tariff, placed several articles of food on the free list. Jn 1900 Mr Beddon relieved the Customs to -the ©Ktonfc of £157,000 in wmt Tear, and, of course, to a greater extent in later years, In 1007 Sir Josepn "Ward, as leader of the Liberiil party, Jierhtehetl the impost on necessaries to the extent of £400,000. Extensions of tho 'Parli-Amontarv fram-lus© and the load franchise, tho establishment! of State D^u'utmcnts, eld ago pensions, widow.--.' pensions, find genora.l legislation to improve workei-s' ennidilions ar-3 on the list (>)' i-eiorms which tho Liberal party, helped by .the voles of tike* workers, lias broughv «bout- Th.{.\ L-ibn-a! party from tho timo it ef.'-t ou(. on tho read of reform. was allied to tho Radicals. Durinjj; -fcho v:i\Y I (iuppnrted the National ■Govorunient-, 'I'ielt that the Liberal insnibe-rs nlioul(l sink i-.olitical differ-<-nc?sin ordo.- to make v. united country intiino«f peril: but 1 now think that «s i-lw war is over, the Liberal party hn« a. fid-t io a«k the.- electors of New Zoa.la.nd tp allow it to continue ite work' :r; a. distinct political party. T. fihall strongly resist an effort to u;:itt> it to tho ' Svefornj party.' 3