THE LIBERALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 5

THE LIBERALS.

LEADER STILL SILENT. MEMBERS TO MEET SHORTLY 7 . ATTITUDE IX COMING SESSION.

“The Liberal-Labor Party stands four-square for loyalty to King and Empire,” said -Mr. T. M. Wilford, leader of the party, during his address at the leception tendered to Mr. S. G. Smith, member of Taranaki, at the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth, last night. “It knows only one flag, the Union Jack,” he went on, • and it does not consider lip service to the flag as any indication of patriotism. “I want you to realise,” he added, “that we have been able to make experiments in social legislation which older countries, with older and more conservative ideas, have not been able to make. Up to 1911, this country was in the forefront with social legislation, but the foster parents of to-day are merely administering that legislation, without the sympathy, however, of the parents.” ‘ The Liberal-Labor Party, Mr. Wilford continued, realised that a “one man power” administration ,vas not a good thing for any country. They held that the difference between the Liberal Party and the Reform Party or the Labor Party was that, while those parties stood for class, the Liberal-Labor Party did not recognise class. The LiberalLabor Party’s creed was an inclusive, not an exclusive one. They believed that extremists oh either side were a pestilence to society, and that the man who talked direct action was as much a, danger to the State as the man who, at the time of an industrial crisis, said: “Now is the time to smash the union.” The Liberal-Labor Party stood for, and its watchword was, “for the whole of the people and not for some of the people.” (Applause). “We fought a fight with practically all of the press of New Zealand against us,” Mr. Wilford continued amidst applause, “but we have this satisfaction, that we know, and we knew, that the cause will beat any newspaper propaganda in the world. Without the expenditure of a single penny in the press on behalf of the party we have succeeded in coming back a live force. The tide of Liberalism is rising steadily.” Mr. Wilford proceeded to draw a picturesque account of What he imagined had taken place at the recent Reform caucus, and said that they would shortly have a. gathering ofi the LiberalLabor Party, when the attitude they intended to take up in the coming session and in the future would be carefully and definitely outlined. The executive of the party had met, and its decisions had been submitted to each member of the party for consideration. It would be unfair to suggest what the executive had submitted to the party until every member had had an opportunity of considering the proposals. He wanted to assure them that the financial condition of the country would be carefully watched, as well as the administration of the State departments, while the policy of the party, as compared with others offered, would also be well considered. Mr. Wilford proceeded to quote instances of the very few cases where statesmen had been successful in peace as well as in war, and he attributed the failure of the Massey Government to t’> fact that they could not shake off habits engendered by the millions of pounds they had to spend during the wai. In concluding, Mr. Wilford expressed his regret that he would not have the opportunity of see more of New Plymouth before he went away. He again referred to the rising tide of Liberalism and said that in Auckland the other day they had had the largest meeting since 1896. They had lacked organisation (hiring the recent fight. The spirit was there and the desire was there, but the absence of organisation had deprived them of the place they -were entitled to in the country.