LIBERAL SENTIMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11409, 4 January 1923, Page 5

LIBERAL SENTIMENT

'NOT SLEEPING, BUT ALIVE' IT STANDS FOR ALL, NOT A SECTION OF THE PEOPLE. “EXTREMISTS A PESTILENCE.” (Special to “X.Z. Times.”) AUCKLAND, January 2. The Leader of the Opimsition, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, made a stirring speech at Auckland on the present and future of the Liberal-Labour Party, when he received a deputation representing 17 electorates in and around Auckland with reference to the formation of an Auckland branch of the Liberal-Labour Federation, now being formed throughout New Zealand. Mr J. Coyle, who headed the deputation and introduced the members to the Leader, said the day was not far distant when the Liberals would again be in power. Meantime, they had to form Liberal Associations in every centre and in every electorate. Mr F. J. H. Elliadon, J.P., and Mr J. Trevethick, J.P., also supported the proposition.

TWENTY-NINE YEARS A LIBERAL Mr Wilford, who was received enthusiastically, said it was 29 years since he first stood as a Liberal candidate, and he had been continuously a member of Parliament for 23 years. He thought the most wonderful fact standing out in the last election was the extraordinary Libfaeral sentiment, that he found —not sleeping, but alive and yet unable to express itself. The fault was that they had no cohesion because they had. ho organisation. Over and over they had expressed the desire to hiave someone in their constituencies to whom they could look for direction in order to do service for the party. His answer had been" that when he took the leadership two years ago the party was only a handful without funds and without organisation, with the Massey press belittling whatever efforts they made. To use a colloquialism, the party had to sing small because of their numbers. nuA he had Had to go cautiously to see if it was not possible for him individually to do something to lift the party which had so rightly been •aid to nave drifted.

REFORM STRONGHOLD ATTACKED “I did what I thought was the first step in that direction,” continued Mr Wilford. “It was to bring up the doctrine which I believe is a Liberal principle—‘collective responsibility/ as opposed to autocratic control, and the party chose an executive to work with' We for the purpose. We. were handicapped for want of funds and by the smallness of our party, hut we battled on, .although it was sometimes difficult. I felt that the numbers in the House was no indication of the strength of the support which the party possessed in the country. Then I had to decide whether I would found Liberal organisations or seek candidates—there was not time to do both. For a year I gave np my profession and went on tour round New Zealand. I wae asked why I neglected the cities. The reason was that, owing to lack of party funds, it , was - very .difficult to. get going there, and I decided to prove to the small \ farmers of the country that the present Reform Government was not their friend. I decided —rightly, it turned out—to attack the Reform Party in their stronghold. The results proved my tactics were correct, for we took a number of country seats from them. We had little chance in the towns at the last election, because the Labour union organisations were already organised and time was short.” LIBERALISM ON ITS FEET. Referring to the Liberal candidates, the speaker said the party had a class of men standing in the constituencies of whom New Zealand would ’ -ve been proud, and in whom the country wonld have had every confidence if, they had all been returned. While Parliament was sitting, the party bad had “Flying Squadrons,” as they were called, who visited 'various constituencies to explain to the people from the platform what Reform really stood for, and what liberalism truly meant. When he himself addressed meetings, during the campaign—large, enthusiastic gatherings they were—.they never,, failed to carry a resolution, by an emphatic majority that a change of Government was necessary. He had found that Liberalism had sprung like a giant to its feet, and was only waiting for a lead and waiting for organisation. TO AVERT A CLASS WAR. “Liberalism,” said Mr Wilford, ‘ is mi inclusive and not an exclusive creed, and the greatest difference be- . tween Liberalism and Reform and Labour is that Labour stands for class and Reform stands for class, while Liberalism declines to admit class. Liberalism stands for all the people and not some of the people. (Applause.) We believe that extremists on the Reform side .or on the Labour side are a pestilence to society. ■ We believe that the man in the Labour ranks who talks direct action is as much a danger to the State as the extremist on the Reform side who in a time of industrial trouble says, “Now is our time to smash the unions.” Either is a danger to the State, .and I believe sincerely that unites Liberalism returns to power you are going to sec a naked fight on class lines.”

LIBERALISM AND EXTREMISM. The leader pointed oat that when the Liberals left the National Government in 1919 there were only 8 mem- ' here of the Holland Party m Parliament. In three years that party had increased to 16 or 17. The people were learning that extremism on one side bred extremism! on the other. Liberalism diluted extremism until it became noxious and ineffective, but the Conservative, Reform or reactionary Government fanned the flames. But, he said,,there were three phases in the life of a Government, just as there were in an individual or nation. These were the rise, the meridian and the decay uid fall. The Reform Government was long past, the second stage. Mr Wilford pointed out that the party executive consisted of men of ability and experience—the Hon. Mr Ngata, Mr Sidey, Mr Veitch, Mr Forbes, Mr Masters and himself. They had carefully considered the present political position and had oome to a definite conclusion, but until the parity had had an opportunity of considering the same, the Liberals of New Zealand must have sufficient confidence in the executive and party to allow them to refrain from making any public statement meantime. (Applause.) The Leader then detailed the proposed organisation of the party, setting out the methods to be adopted. He announced that two organisers would bo appointed, one for each island.

“This gathering,” ho said in conclusion, “is very important and will have far reaching effects, for it will blaze the trail for the Liberal-Labour

Party to the goal whioh every Liberal is striving to gain.” The olose ot the speech was marked by enthusiastic and prolonged applause, and a resolution was oarried unanimously pledging every delegate to do his and her utmost to perfect the organisation of the party.