The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1925. “MARVELLOUS”—OF COURSE!

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12195, 21 July 1925, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1925. “MARVELLOUS”—OF COURSE!

Late, curiously late, on Friday evening last, the Lib.-Labs. sent forth the Nationalist slogan which they had appropriated from the head of the Government. It was inevitable that there would be a “marvellous response” to that fiery cross: there always is. .'Any politician will tell you that. . Even so, Mr Wilford, who gave the “Post ’ the glad news, did not make out a strong or convincing case in support of his marvellous response.” The evidence is rather unimpressive. It amounts to this: (i) Nationalist candidates are announced in two constituencies; (2) a number of Lib.-Lab. branches have adopted the new title; (3) a Reform supporter in the Wairarapa talked with twenty of his “Reform friends,” and all decided to stand behind the Nationalist candidate. . . . We are unable to see anything in the foregoing to justify the “marvellous.” The announced candidates would have had the nomination whatever happened. We only hope that Mr Wilford is hot inviting his public to believe that his manifesto made any difference there. The same criticism applies to the branches of the Lib!-Lab. Party which have accepted the Nationalist title. What else were they likely to do ? That Reform supporter and his 20 friends leave us prizzled. We wonder' who counted, the converted score? Anyhow, 20 (or 21) will not frighten the Prime Minister. Had it been 200 (or 201), Mr Coates might well have regretted not having traded off a few portfolios with the Lib.-Labs. • It seems to us that this “marvellous response” is a blood relative of the Liberal “wave” which was to sweep Mr Wilford into office years ago and has failed to rise to the occasion. We do not recall a satisfactory explanation of the non-appearance of the promised (or threatened! tidal bore. However, under the influence-ol the. winds of chance and the moon of Nationalism, it may yet realise the expectations of its manipulators. Again, it may not. As 'a leopard is no less a leopard under another name, so the Lib.-Labs. are no less Lib.-Labs. because they have re-christened themselves. Before he can look for a real “marvellous response,” Mr Wilford will need to demonstrate that he is a 100 per cent, better Nationalist than he was a Lib.-Lab. Also, he will have to prove that his Nationalist policy is a vast improvement on. the old one. We shall be surprised if he is able to satisfy either of those conditions. He talks of going to the country with a “constructive” programme. The implication is that his Lib-Lab. policy was something different. Are we to understand that the Liberal executive has received valuable inspiration from the term “Nationalist” ? Mr Wilford would do well to refrain from poetic lioense in his bulletins until he can produce something which genuinely warrants the use of startling superlatives. He is the wiser leader who does not boast at least until the victory is in sight.