A REVIVAL OF LIBERALISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 256, 26 September 1935, Page 6

A REVIVAL OF LIBERALISM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In a recent article a Christchurch journal appreciatively referred to the part Canterbury Liberalism played in bringing about the great reform of the ’nineties and the first decade of this century. It said it “was based on clear-cut principles, and the Liberal programme of the first decade of the century aimed at the gradual extension of the earlier spectacular reforms.” Being myself a member of the C.L.A. in the ’nineties I can absolutely support the statement. Is Liberalism dead in Canterbury? Nay, nay! It is the vital principle from which progress springs and flourishes. It may weaken and seem to die, but phoenix-like, it springs from its ashes and mounts aloft. We had a terrible depression in 1889-90, after the Atkinson Government’s retrenchment and 10 per cent.

cut policy. Unemployed gathered in Cathedral Square at the lamp-post under William Powell, waving a skulland crossbones flag. Steamers for Australia were crowded with refugees. In. 1901 John Ballance —the philosophic thinker and director of the _ Liberal Party.—took office. He laid the foundations, but died two years after. Air W. I. Ballinger and myself represented the C.L.A. at his funeral. His Ministry included Seddon, McKenzie and Ward. They set to work in real earnest to make into concrete action Ballance s ideals and some new ones. With what result? The depression lifted; prosperity abounded, and for twenty-one years, under Seddon, and \\ ard, the Liberals ruled New Zealand. With two intermissions I sat in the House from 1894 to 1919, and saw the whole working of the State machine, how the country was raised from dire poverty to affluence, with vast surpluses year after year, which were used for public works instead of borrowing. I “played the game” throughout. Sometimes I differed from my leaders, where a question of principle was involved, as in the case o*f Sir John McKenzie’s “eternal lease,” to whicn I was utterly opposed, but never cast my vote against my party. In 1919 I was defeated for Avon. At that election the Reform Party put up no candidate, and quietb- and secretly the Reform vote was cast for . Air Sullivan not to put him- in, but to put me out. I was Sir Jospeh w ard s benchmate, his first lieutenant. In his absence I acted as 1 leader. He also was defeated for .Awarua- By the casting of the Reform vote for Air Sullivan I was defeated, although my vote was. within 150 of the total at the previous election, when I' defeated both Air Sullivan and Air H. D. Acland (Reform). Such is life! I took it philosophically, and retired I hope gracefully. 1 have never ceased my interest in politics, however. I look ■ over the country and see it in a deplorable state and the question has dinned itself into my ears. “What would Seddon have done?” I have, therefore, been engaged for several weeks past trying to answer the question, and have compiled all the data necessary to state a policy on Baliance-Seddon-AlcKenzie-and-Ward lines which I believe would receive the support of the country. The Coalition policy is known: they appeal to what they have done. The Democrats appear to me to be an' offshoot of the Coalition stem, intended to catch the discontented. The Labour Party appears to have no policy but opposition and office. Reading Air Savage’s speech in moving his noconfidence amendment I see nothing but guaranteed prices for farmers (fancy that, sir, from the Labour leader), restoration of cuts in civil servants’ wages, pensions for -men at sixty, and higher wages for unemployed. Is this all that can be done ? What about the masses of the people —those who are outside the classes Air Savage proposes to legislate for? Air Seddon always thought of the great crowd behind the classes in the front in the limelight. Remember them, I say. In the House are already several able ■ Independents, and tliirty-six others ai'e announced as Independent candidates. AVhat policy are thev going to follow ? Hundreds of thousands want to vote for the good of the country, but are inarticulate for want of leadership and policy. Give them that and they will rally to the flag as the people did in 1877, when Sir George Grey swept the country with his policy of manhood suffrage, oue man one vote and triennial Parliaments. I shall be glad to have the views of others. —I am, etc., GEORGE AY. RUSSELL. 307 Alain Road, Eastbourne, Wellington.