THE POLITICAL PARTIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 6

THE POLITICAL PARTIES

MB WIi.FOLD'S MOVI

BLESS VIEWS Appended are eonynenls f■ J** : a Mi Widow! s ! i!<*.-•: move TWO "HATIONAL” PARTIES From the public point of view tho latest political developments are any tiling lit!! progressive, eeinnients the Bust. Nor mil the blame be placed wholly upon tin* .me set of slnmlders/In* Liberal declaration for tin* formation of a new National Parly is nottimely: but it is merely taking a line from the lieform Parly. Mr Wilford says, in effect : " I lie time has come fi r a National Party, so we will lie that party. Others are invited to join." That is how his statement will he read# But how does this differ from the declaration bv Mr Coates, as given in his contention that the doer was still open, and emphasised by his latest retort to Mr Wilford? Stripped of all ornamentation, that- declaration was merely this: "Wo believe in a National Party, and we are. the Nationalists. Those who think likewise should come over and join us.” it would lie rather amusing to hear and mark these protests of concern for the public welfare, were it not lor the pi ssible si rinus consequences. W hile lieformers an shouting: "We are the Nationalists." the Liberals put out their sign: "This way to the National Party." Labour may quietly walk In tween the ranks to- say: "Me are the. Government." W hen the light has gone so far as to become an argument- upon which side shall be the Official Opposition the parties may become mere reasonable; but that will he small consolation to the public. Ilie latest developments, we. feel sure, will do neither party good in the eyes ol the public. The eager partisans may shout- and applaud, but the Blinking public, will look on in dismay and wonder when they are really to he. considered as something more than a pawn in the game. "THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN" An announcement made by flu* Loader of tlu* Opposition may lie- described as typically Wilfordish, comments tile Dominion. The Liberal-Labour Bartv, lie intimated, is no longer to he the Liberal Labour Bartv, Imi the National Bartv. Ihe reason given for the change is that, there is no room for three parties in our polities, and as the fusion uego tialions have fallen through Mr Wilford is going to have a Natii/nal Bartv of his own. Apparently Air Wilford holds the view that the change of name will compensate for such deficiencies as might otherwise debar bis party from anv substantial measure of popular suppnrl. Mr Wilford s leadership of the l.ib era I Labour Party has been chiefly characterised by cheap tricks of this nature. What lie does not appeal' to realise is that it is not the name of a party that wins the confidence of the people, but the policy and the men behind the police.

For years Air Wilford has worked io death tlu* name of Liberalism. It- has been his' trump card. Ih* lias never tired of enlarging on the great traditions of Liberalism, the magnificent record of Liberalism, the superior virtues of Liberalism over every other form of political creed. Liberalism drooped and faded in popular esteem under his inefficient guidance. Now that the name under his leadership has lost all its charm to win the electors it is perhaps a wise step to seek an alias. But Air Wilford as the self-constituted leader of a anally National Party is distinctly amusing. It recalls the fable of the ass in the lion's skin.

SAME FIRM DOING THE BUSINESS

From to-day, says Saturday's New Zealand 'rimes, the Lib.-Labs, are no more. or. rather, the name disappears. Mr Milford and 1 1 is followers have been meeting since the fusion negotiations failed, and last night Mr Milford produced tho result: they have “resolved to proceed with the formation of a National Party.” But while (he old ling lias been hauled down, and a. new one is to he hauled up, if enough subscribe to the fund to provide it, the people doing the hauling are the same in each case. M'liat has happened is that Messrs Milford and Co., who yesterday called themselves the Liberal-Labour Party, today pose as the .National Party. A new shingle is above the door, but the same firm does business within.