POLITICAL SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 18936, 24 September 1920, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION

MR McCALLUM’S VIEWS. CONVERGENCE OF PARTIES. REPUDDIATION OF LIBERAL LEADER. (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, September 23. During t.he course of an interview with an Express reporter, Mr R. McCallum, member for Wairau, made a statement of his views on the political situation. He said: “For years past in this country a gradual obliteration and convergence of political party lines has been conspicuously noticeable. The, war, by forcing upon all parties the subordination (taking the shape of the National Government. i of party interests to national and Imperial welfare, accentuated and hurried on this process of union and co-operation of both parties, which lasted over four years, and the results of last general election have now produced a new and unprecedented situation in our Parliamentary history. The old dividing lines of Conservative and Liberal have disappeared or have so merged and converged as to leave it somewhat, difficult for many to discover distinguishing party principles. The disappearance of Sir Joseph Ward (temporarily or otherwise I from New Zealand politics has still further promoted this situation, ns it has left no one with the outstanding ability and authority lie (tossessed to declare the policy of the Liberal Party. I am not alone, among those who followed Sir Joseph Ward and (he late Mr Mac Donald in finding (hat I cannot accept Mr Wilford as my leader. I do not propose to enter into the reasons for this conclusion, as these might he regarded as more or less invidious, but the impossibility of his holding the party together seems to me to be beyond question, in so much that I find it due. to my constituents and myself to define mv position in the House to-day. 1 stand for political principles but have no political leader, and these principles I shall endeavour to support and promote irrespective of party until a leader arrives or emerges who in my judgment is qualified for and politically worthy of the Liberal leadership ,if, indeed, the Liberal Party is to survived’

! Mr McCnlbtrn concluded by giving the pro- | gramme of what he considers is required in ' these time-;, and conchies by saying. “In ! this short programme there hj great work i for the Government to do, and to the host jof my nhiiiiv if the Government is willing ■ I am out to help them irrespective of party.' 1