The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, JUNE 16, 1924. THE COMING INVASION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 16 June 1924, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, JUNE 16, 1924. THE COMING INVASION.

“The day was not far distant,” declared one of the Tarty m tiie Middle of tliei Hoad, in tire course of an address to a “very small” gathering 1 of the faithful at Ashburton the other night, “when the genius of the Liberal Party would surprise the whole country with their brilliant politics.” The Member for Camara who lives in the past, indulged in this entertaining outburst. Mr Forbes and Mr Macplierson are paving the wartor the grand entry of Mr Wilforu into the Canterbury constituencies represented by Reform members. .Bankrupt of a policy other than the claim that they are the- lineal descendants of the Seddon line of the Party, _ Mr WilforcT s comrades in political adversity are endeavouring- to stem the tide of public opinion which is leaving them high and dry in the middle of the road. “Vested interests ran the country to-day,” says Mr Maopherson. “If we had a Government with any initiative, we- would have been well ahead now. The Government- was stagnant, and New Zealand was drifting from the sound country of a few years ago. The Government’s interests all along were- in favour of one particular class. He was there- to help to revitalise the people in favour of the progressive Liberal platform.” Apparently the dead horse is to be flogged during the next few months in the- hope of putting new life into the corpse. Jnquestionably, the rapidly disappearing- remnant of the once great Liberal Party is finding some difficulty in convincing the people that Mr Wilford is really serious. The Liberal-Labour leader’s spineless attitude during the recent ill-advised railway strike, sealed the fate- of any party led by the Member for Hutt. Mr Wilford was fox the strikers but against tho

strike. Moreover, despite Mr Macphe-rson’s rather amusing yet wistful reference to “The- Day,’ when ‘ 'the party of liberty”' would “in time”, recapture the Treasury benches, the inexorable redrawing of the political frontiers proceeds, is eliminating tho so-called Liberals as an influential factor in the political developments of the day- Mr Wilford knows perfectly well, that tho issue is no longer Reform v. Liberal, or Liberal v. Labour, but-- unadulterated Socialism v. Anti-Socialism. Already Labour is challenging Mr Wilford’s right to be x-e-g-arded as the official Opposition. Mr Holland claims, and quotes from the official records in support of his criticism. that. Mr Wilford has been found in the Government lobby oftener than with the Opposition. The personal record of the Liberal Leader is illuminating, more particularly in view of the claim that the Government represents

''vested interests.” In 219 divisions recorded between 1912 and 1923, Mr Wilford voted 122 times with Mr Massey and Gu times against the' Government lie was not accounted for on 2." occasions ! On three occasions' (on each of which a Labour noeontidence motion was beingvoted upon) Mr Wilford left the Chamber to avoid having' to vote against the "party of vested interests” ! Three times he paired against the Government. No more conclusive proof of the absurdity of Mr Wilford’s contention that his party serves any useful purpose, can bo found . than this exposure of the failure of the Liberal-Labour leader to voto against the Government, it he really means what lie says. No« only so, but Mr Wiltord and bis fellow-seekers after - office are putting their individual interests before those of the country, since the split ring of the moderate votes gives the- Socialists an undue advantage. It is understood that the Liberal-Labour invasion will come into South Canterbury this week, when it is hoped Mr Wilford will disclose the Liberal-Labour policy of which Mr Macpherson speaks so glibly, rather than waste time bemoaning the lack of interest dis played by the press' in his futile campaigning, or indulge in Ins lather crude criticism of financial affairs with which lie is not very closely acquainted.