"NOT TRUE TO BRAND."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18224, 18 October 1922, Page 8

"NOT TRUE TO BRAND."

THE VANISHING LIBERALS. MR. VIGOR BROWN'S EXIT. OLD PARTY'S SHORTCOMINGS LET TSUSGBAPH.-SPECIAL EEPORTEB.J WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Recently it was stated that another of the old Liberals would soon be found announcing that he would support the Reform Party. The member referred to was Mr'. Vigor Brown, the member for Napier. Mr. Brown, in his election manifesto, now says he has much pleasure in definitely stating his intention for the future of supporting the Reform Party. " This," hessab,y b, "is no new departure in policy on my part. After my entry into Parliament I gave a consistent support to Sir Joseph Ward and the Libera! Tarty. On the retirement of Sir Joseph Ward from the leadership of the Liberal Party I publicly announced that I would not follow the leadership of Mr. WiMord, and I was not alone among Liberals in that attitude. Since that time, now nearly three years, I have voted with the Reform Party. I have been encouraged to do so by the conviction that the sounder Liberalism is to be found among Mr. Massey's following. The Liberal Party, with which I have been recently associated, is not true to brand. Its present policy embraces socialism of an experimental and disturbing character, and _ it is too much inclined to coquette with Extreme Labour for party advantage. " On the other hand, Mr. Massey has not shown any disposition to repeal the progressive and beneficial legislation passed by the Seddon and Ward Governments, but on the contrary is extending and broadening it for the most part. The, present Reform Government is r.pt the Government I formerly opposed. Nearlv all tho old Ministers have retired and have been renlaced by younger r#nd more capable and broad-minded men." Mr. Brown adds that he has received moro consideration from the present Government in the matter of Public Works in Hawke's Bay, and other matters of miblic imnortanre, than from any previous Government. He concludes :— " I consider that at the present time petty frrty differences, are of less ronseouence to the peonle than the stabilising of our finances, • the restoration of that measure of nrosneritv that world guarantee profitable emnlovment to all who desire it. and the maintenance of a sfauneh snirit of lovalty to the fla? and the Throne. T desire it to be known that T enter on the contest «>s the official candidate of the Reform Party.'* Mr. Bro-n was not in the TTouse this afternoon, but when he made his appearance this evening he occ l,T "ed a seat on the Goverment Benches. The siat on the front Onnosition Benches, formerly oocu*vpd hv m-rriVr for wps taken by Mr. W. T. Jenninsrs (Waitomo).