The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1919. A LIBERAL CHALLENGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19816, 6 December 1919, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1919. A LIBERAL CHALLENGE.

Sir Joseph "Ward issued a very definite challenge to the Reform journals which accuse the Liberal Party of an alliance with the “ Reds.” It is notorious that these journals are never tired of harping an this fiction of their own manufacture, and they coolly ignore the repented and categorical denials which have been uttered by Sir Joseph. To people who ire not blinded by political prejudice it is sufficient that the Liberals are fighting extreme Labour m the political field, and that the Reformers are conspicuously absent from these contests. Not a single Reformer has come forward for any of the Christchurch scats, and in Avon the candidature of Mr J. Carl, is regarded ns something in too nature of a not too brilliant joke. Where the choice of the electors is between a Liberal and a Labourite the position of the Reform organ may profitably be scrutinised. Last * evening Sir Joseph Ward Quoted a paragrauh from ‘‘Tho Press” regarding the contest between the Liberal and Labour representatives in Avon. Sir Joseph was mistaken when ho said that tue paragraph was rot an advertisement. These paragraphs are distinguished by a number being attached, .and the “local” referred to had a mystic “6” at tho end. There is no need, however, to go to tho news or advertising columns of tho journal in question for a pronouncement which fills the bill equally well, and proves Sir Joseph W ard’s contention even more conclusively. A newspaper’s political opinions are expressed in its leading articles, and we propose to quote from such an article in the Reform journal. Christchurch South is being contested bv Mr Henry Holland and Mr E. J. Howard, the former as a'Liberal and the latter as a Labourite. Mr Holland mortally offended tho Reformers by a statement in his first manifesto by describing their party as one whose policy was to make the wealthy man wealthier and the poor man poorer. In its > anger as so damaging a aescrintion tho Reform journal said“ The friends of Reform in the South elec* ' torate have a right to know on what grounds Mr Holland has represented them as tho friends of a party whose policy is to make the wealthy man wealthier and the poor man poorer. In his address at Spreydon mst night Mr Holland made no reference to this point, and we are surprised that he does not understand that to the average Reform voter a candidate who really holds such *. view of the Reform Party as be has expressed is hardly preferable to an uncompromising opponent like Mr E. J. Howard.” If that is not tho “ straight tip ” to what few Reformers there are in Christchurch South to vote for Mr Howard in preference to Mr Holland; what is itP At one fell stroke “The Press” sweeps aside the iervice rendered by Mr Holland us .Mayor of the city for seven years, and his extraordinary patriotic activities during the war period. It advises the supporters of Mr Massey to vote for a candidate representing a party whose most notable war s contribution was a declaration of its dignified neutrality when the Empire was at death grips with a terrible foe. On top of this it has the audaoity to use as a stick to boat the Liberals a charge of engineering the sort of alliance which it is urging on the Reformers of Christchurch South. Sir Joseph Ward’s challenge should silence, once and for all, Iho allegations of a Liberal-Red alliance.