NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 8

NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

MB. WILFOKD'S CLAIMS.

ASPIRATIONS OUTLINED.

"APPEAL TO MODERATES."

[BX TEXiEQEAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION,] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Speaking at a meeting at Pfetone tonight, convened by his friends and supporters to congratulate him oil tho formation of the new combined party, Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, said various papers were suggesting they should join the Conservative Party, nowadays known as the Reform Party, but it was impossible for his party to join the party led by Mr. Massey or the party led by Mr. Holland. "Both parties, in our opinion, represent the 'extremists' in politics," he said. "Tho new party, though it stands against the Holland party, stands for the workers, as did" the' Liberal-Labour Party of old. It stands for all classes, not for any particular class. It wishes the citizens peace, not class war. It stands for government by Parliament, not by Order-in-Oouncil. Wo stand for the welfaro of the whole people, a«d not of any class. We wish to attach to us all men and women of moderate opinion who would wish to join us. We believe the majority of the workers of this country aro loyal citizens and anti-Bolshevist. Liberalism looks forward—hence the torm 'Progressive.' Recognition ol No Glass. "Toryism stands for the existing division of class. Liberalism recognises no class. It embraces all. Liberalism is au inclusive creed, wliijo tho others are exclusive, While Toryism desires to keep, and a small section of Labour to tako, Liberalism desires to maintain tho balanco. In other words, it is the pendulum -which keeps time for everyone. "In short, I wish to make, it clear that tho new party, which is composed of Liberals and Moderato Labour (if I may use the latter terra), stands for 'all' the people, not for 'some' of the people. We bolievc that to attempt to draw a line of demarcation upon purely class lines in a community like ours at such a time as this is the worst disservice that can he done to democracy. It would not close, but would opon the door to revolution. It would bo a disastrous departure.

Two Types of Extremist. "We believo that no class, great or small, rich or poor, i» entitled to dictate the policy or dominate the fortunes of New Zealand. We firmly assert that the peace and prosperity of New Zealand can only be brought about by the mediating, reconciling, and progressive spirit of Liberalism. We believe that it can be dono by nothing else on earth, and that any political union between Liberals and Conservatives would create and aggravate the danger, and would help to breed Socialism or Communism, or worse. We further affirm that tho junctiou of Liberals and Moderate Labour against Toryism and Extreme Labour is the only guarantee of liberty and peaceful progress, and that liberty, fraternity, and equal opportunity for all are essential to the human well-being, and must be kept in the forefront of the party's programme. We recognise there are extremists to-day among the Tories and on the side of Labour. Both are a pestilence to society. You have tho extremist who wants direct action, and tho extremist who, when a strike occurs, says: 'This is a chance to smash.'

"Wo believe in arbitration and appeal to reason with remedial suggestion at such times, and finally let me Bar that what is best in Labour is just Liberal and nothing else, and what is stfund in Labour is the application of Liberal principles. Unless wo have a Liberal-LaDour Party in power wo shall have a naked fight on class lines, which is unthinkable." '

ORGANISATION MEASURES.

VISITS TO CHIEF CENTRES. [BV TELECIIAPH.—OWN COIIttESFONDKNT.) WELLINGTON. Tuesd&y. Mr. Wilford and Mr.. 0. E. Stath&m took the patform together at Petoiie to-night, and fired the first shot in the election campaign of the United Progressive Liberal Labour Party. Mr. Wilford, in tho course of his speech, said certain measures of organisation had been agreed upon by the party exocutive and himself as leader of the party. He intended in future to visit Auckland. Wellington, Christchuroh, Dunedin, and Invercargill, for the purpose of securing the unity of the organisation. That would occupy him for about three weeks. Then he proposed to come back to Petone and make a speech that would begin tho election campaign of the new Opposition throughout New Zealand. That speech would be the first polioy speech of tho leader of the new party, and it would present the aspirations and ideals of the party for tho consideration of the people of New Zealand.

Mr. Statham spoko briefly. He stated that the Opposition groups had really been Liberals ail the time, and they had como to realise now that their common interest was to bo served by fighting tho common enemy which was the Massey Party. He invited Lnbour to Btand with Liberalism and sweep the present Government from office in December. 1