WELLINGTON TOPICS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE LIBERAL LEADER.

A SICK MAN

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON. Aug. 4. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald has never fully recovered from th»' effects of the accident which betel him last year, and since the beginning of the session he has becu suffering acutely from a*recurrenc© of his troubles. The members of hi* family, and latterly his friends iv the House (who include many of his political opponents), have been urging him for some time* past to take a complete rest; but he has thought it his duty to stick to his po.it, and it was only at the beginning of the present week his inability to carry on was brought home t« him. Ho could not open the debate on the Budget in. the House fast night, his place being taken by Mr T. M. Wilford. and in the course of a day or i>wo he will go to his home in Gisborne, whore he probably will remain till the end of the month.

THE LEAB>EIILESS PARTY. - Naturally there is some speculation as to the leadership'of the Liberal Party during the absence of Mr MacDonald. Mr Wilford assumed the role last night, at the request of his chief, by leading off in the Budget debate, and on the whole acquitted himself remarkably well. Finance I» not his long suit, but, as everyoneknows, he is exceptionally ready and versatile, and quite one of the most attractive sneakers in the present House. He always has been numbered among the most "progressive" members of the Liberal Party, and of late years has developed a distinct leaning towards Labor of the sane and constitutional brand, a tendency which does not count to his discredit among his constituents. For the present, however, he is not a candidate for the Liberal leadership.

THE FUTURE., All the members of the Liberal Party, indeed, would strongly resent any attempt to supplant Mr MacDonald. Though the present leader is neither a brilliant speaker nor a ready tactician, he has experience and good common-sense on his side, and is loyal to his friends and to tire* ideals- and traditions of his party. The possibility of'his medical adviser insisting upon his laying down, for a season, at any rate, the burden h& has taken up has to be faced, however, and in that event it would be no easy matter to fill his place,, even temporarily. Mr Wilford, even if he were disposed to act as locum tenens, would not be acceptable to all sections •of the party, and Mr Sidey and Mr Forbes, whose names have been mentioned and who personally are two of the most popular men in the House seem, nowadays, to have no ambition in this direction.

THE PARTY IN POWER. In these circumstances, Mr Massey and his colleagues have little reason.

to fear any serious assault upon their occupancy of the Treasury Benches* during the life- of the present Parliament. Their majority, in addition to being a largo one, is. a very docile one, always, of course, excepting the Independents like Dr Newman and Mr Statham, who have definitely refused to be_ tied to any party. These enterprising spirits can b& soared, without the existence of the 'Ministry being imperilled. Btit it still remains for tlje Liberal Party todo a lot of useful work in the House. Mr Massey is daring a great deal and risking a great deal in the policy he unfolded in his Budget last week, and never' before was a vigilant. Opposition more urgently required. Here Liberal and Labor members will fi:id a common ground for service.