OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16625, 22 October 1925, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

LIBERALS IN SEARCH OF A LEADER, Asked whether he would vote for the Reform Party against the Labour Party if it were a question of putting the latter in power, the Nationalist candidate said at Ashburton on Thursday night that he would not vote against Reform to put Labour ip office. He had "great admiration for Mr. Coates, and would have pleasure in voting for him to form a staMe Government.” It will be remembered also that Mr. Horn, the Liberal candidate for Walsatipu, expressed himself in the same ’manner a few days earlier, and that one North Island Liberal lias also made it clear that he would be satisfied to have Mr. Coates as a leader. Nor is it going too far to point out that these professions of satisfaction are expressions of hope. The Liberals are not only satisfied with the Reform Leader: they know that he is the only hope of those who are not prepared to follow Mr. Holland, and that if they cannot draw nearer to one or the other of the only two leaders in the field, they will count in the npxt Parliament for precisely nothing at all. Yet it is an extraordinary position in which they now find themselves. They are unable to go over to the Reds because they have solemnly declared Socialism to bo the enemy, are afraid of the electors, and in any case know that tho Reds despise them. On the other hand, the Leader they so much admire is the unanimously-chosen head of the Reform Party.—Christchurch Press.

"THE SENIOR MEMBER.” Mr. Sidev, the solitary representative of Liberalism (or Nationalism) in the Dunedin urban contests, has enjoyed an element of good fortune in more than one of his election contests in the district for which he has been

the member for 24 years. He has seldom been hampered by tho obstacle of a triangular fight, and he has frequently had the support of largo numbers of electors who wore not completely in accord with bis political views' and attitude. On tbe present occasion he is certain to enjoy a similar advantage. In view of the fact that the Reform Party, in tbe interests of fusion and stable government, lias decided not to nominate a candidate for Dunedin South, it might perhaps be thought that Mr. Sidev’s elaborate address on Thursday night, was not conceived in a very conciliatory spirit, for the bulk of if was devoted to caustic criticism of Reform policy and administration. It certainly was not an attack upon Labour prooagnnda. and Mr. MncManus mav feel unconcerned about it. but Mr. Sicley will probably have something in store for his opponent to be produced before tbe close of the campaign. He evidently believes that in emphasising tbe differences between Reform and “Nationalism” be is helping to clear up the political situation and to further the establishment of a genuine National Government. It is a, plausible idea,, though we cannot help thinking that Mr. Sidev magnifies the difference which mostly relate to matters of .detail.—Otago Dailv Times.