THE RED BOGEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16903, 30 November 1922, Page 6

THE RED BOGEY.

The Tory Press is still frenziedly shelling the Red Flag, and frantically urging the electors not to vote for the Liberals because they will be under the thumb of Mr H. K. Holland and other extremists. The writers of this cheerful propaganda are perfectly well aware that the Liberals will .not bo under anybody's thumb, but they have neither the desire nor the conscience t> be scrupulous. What they want to ensure i- that the .Massey Governmentwill continue to enjoy the sweets ot office even sifter the electors have given them notice to quit. It holds office at present though it is in .a minority in the country, and it wants to retain office even if the elections leave it in rs. minority in the House. The Tories, really have no fear that the Liberals will drive a bargain with the Reds. They know that -nothing of the sort will be done—there will be no purchase of the Labour vote :at the expense of i iberal principles. The Liberals ar*> opposed to the socialisation of the means c*f production, distribution and exchange: they arc opposed to Red Fedisin; they do not indulge in wild talk of spoliation and confiscation simply because those things do not belong to their political beliefs. The, picture of a cowering Liberal leader l eceiving Lis orders from .a dictatorial Red is being drawn almost daily, but it evokes more smiie« than shudders. Thf- record of Liberalism proves both its absolute falsity and its inherent absurdity, ft- Is admitted that the golden era of New Zealand legislation that which was the fruit of Liberalism. The Reformers of to-day. who are claiming to out-Liberal the I liberal lß , were the men who opposed Rallanoe and Seddon to the last ditch. They admit now that they wore wrong, it th**v art playing the same game that they played with the Liberal loaders of the past. They oppose contemporary Liberalism, and praise the Liberalism -of the nineties and the first ten years of the present century. ' hf-v hope that the public has forgotthat the T/<bei*aT legislation, which are •administering, wa? passed In V* teeth of their opposition. The nolitical leopard- r.f Reform have not changed their spots