MR WILFORD MAKES ANOTHER SUP

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 7

MR WILFORD MAKES ANOTHER SUP

CASTS HIS MIND BACK TO 1912, BUT OMITS FACTS SUGGESTS THAT PRIME MINISTER TWISTED RECORDS ON PARLIAMENT S SHELVES PROVE THE CONTRARY Mr Wilford, who this week is Leader of the “National” Party, made a atatement to the “Poet” in which he suggests that the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, is guiUy of political twisting. Hs throws his mind back to the Exciting days of 1912 to hold up his charge, but overlooks the fact that on the shelves, within easy reach in his seat in tfie House, are State records which prove that Mr Coates is on excellent ground, and that Mr Wilford has made just one more slip on the political road.

According to the “Post” Mr Wilford said: “The Prime Minister was on very dangerous ground at Palmerston North when he snake of ‘lightning change artists.’ We do not forget his lightning change in 1912 when, -early in that year he voted confidence in the Liberals against Be form, and a few months later made a lightning change and voted confidence in Reform against the Liberals, and the public will alwavs remember his lightning changes ind side-stepping in the fusion negotirtions. “He stated in those negotiations that his party was in favour of fusion, but when T said 't should take place immediatelv. he made a lightning change and said he must carrv out Mr Massev’s nrogramme fi'st and that he would then consider a date. Again. when 1 po:nted out to him that he _ had his Ministers’ resignations in liis pcfeket for reconstruction, he changed bi» attitude in a moment and stated that reeonotrnetion was not practicable, thoneh how yon could have fusion without ; reconstruction was a mvsterv to me: and, final'v. when I told him wn would leave the nuestion of portfolios op reconstruction entirely to him. he made a lightning chance and denned absolutely to reconstruct. ' “Surely it is dangerous for the Hon. Mr rViate" to talk of lightning rhorme artists. He has certainly beer plasticine in the hands of n few of his party.” CLEAN BOWLED “If, by this statement,” said Mr Coates last evening, “Mr Wilford in-

fers that I did anything which can he construed as a breach or faith with my constituents, or as inconsistent, I just wish to quote the platform which waa printed and circulated throughout the whole of my electorate during the campaign of 1911. It is;— “He will give the Government a chance to bring down satisfactory legislation dealing with these matters dqring the first session' of the new Parliament. If the Government fail to bring down such legislation during the first session of the new Parliament he will vote to turn the Government out of office. On all other no-confidence motions Mr Coates reserves the right to vote as he sees -fit.** “In addressing the House on the occasion 1 said: ‘Now, sir, so far as I am concerned, I think that platform actually freeß me. It leaves me absolutely free to do as I think fit, and I desire to say why. I did vote against the Mackenzie administration. Well, sir, the very first plank in my platform, 1 think, points that out. The first plank in my platform is freehold. Now, we had in the last administration no less than six leaseholders. I am assuming that Dr. Rangihiroa is a leaseholder, and I believe he is a leaseholder. At any rate, on previous occasions he has always voted in that direction.. As a freeholder, hoW Wonld I look to my constituents after giving that pledge if I voted for a Ministry of nine which includes six leaseholders?’