LIBERAL AND REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1925, Page 11

LIBERAL AND REFORM.

(To til® Editor.) Sir,— Various correspondents have reeently dealt with the question of Parliamentary representation in the Egmont electorate, and I would be pleased if you will allow me. as an elector of the* district, to take part in the discussion. and to reply to the main point raised by “Old Liberal” in your issue of May 7. Your correspondent’s theory is that the aims and ideals of the Liberal Party and of the Reform Party are so similar that these two parties should combine forces, and by so doing divide the country, politically, into two camps, Liberal-Reform and Socialist. Does a etudy of the past history of New Zealand warrant the assumption that this can be done? Before the growth of a wrong Parliamentary Socialist Party there were two main groups in New Zealand, the Liberals and the Conservatives, and each held the re.nj fo r various periods. The Libera* Party, as opportunity occurred, in conformity with

the traditional aims of Liberalism, extended the suffrage and ameliorated th? conditions of the poorer sections of the community. In the majority of cases this beneficent evolution was strongly contested by the Conservatives. lu name the old Conservative Party has gone, but with the passing of th-? name St would be irrational to assume that Conservative thought has also passed. The Conservative of a generation ago ► 'fought against pensions and liberal education, but these are now- established and accepted by the successors of the old Conservatives. In changing the party name to Reform did the party lose the support of those who had actively fought, not only the Liberal Party, but also the ideate and aims of Liberalism? I think not. We all meet daily with men and women of sturdy Conservative belief. To which party do their votes go? Always to Reform. Are they stieh a small section that they cannot affect their party’s policy? It is impossible to say ho*w strong this sec*«on is, but if an amalgamation took FpT.Tee between the Liberal Party and the Liberal section of the Reform Party there would certainly be a third section in the country, and there would continue to be three parties in the House of Representatives. Tn the above I have kept to the main point of ‘Old Liberal’s” contention, but to show that we can ever hope to arrive at a two-party system it would be necessary for your correspondent to show in addition that

Hie other two parties, omitted from his •eview of the position, can be brought <o fight under one comprehensive banr rr. The three parties mentioned do t of. represent all the electors of our country, as many would give their first support to either ire Country Party or the Protestant Political Partv. —I am, etc., “NON-PARTY LIBERAL.” Eltham, May .9.