A "LIB-LAB" FARCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12599, 13 September 1905, Page 4

A "LIB-LAB" FARCE.

There must be something radically' wrong with the Liberal party, judging by the farcical proceedings at the meeting held last evening under the authority of the Seddonian organiser. Mr. Culver had come here to. form a branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation. That, as per official announcement, was the sole object of his mission. He went to considerable trouble to explain to his agitated hearers the aims and objects of this precious organisation, and In laboured heavily in an attempt to picture in detail the marvellous mechanism of the party machine. And, when he had done tall this, and while his patriotic breast was still heaving with well cultivated emotion, he learned that a branch was already in existence here, that it had been in existenco for some years, that it was actually possessed of a credit balance, and that, in short, he had come up on a fool's errand! And he, the General Secretary, with "a big "G," a large '"8," and an official "screw"—-he didn't know

iU No wonder that his hearers marvelled at his innocence. No wonder that the large proportion of those present treated the whole sorry business as a farce; No wonder that some of them left the meeting whispering their suspicions that there was a good deal of "bluff" about this colossal and ineexplicable ignorance of the General v Secretary, and incidentally hinting that there was something more behind this otherwise senseless mission. Of course, as. everyone knows, and as Mr. Culver was so pointedly reminded last night, there is a branch of his hybrid hotchpotch in Wanganui, but it is now, has been for some time, and will continue to remain, a miserable and moribund memento of -its original magnificence. But perhaps Mr.-; Culver does not know that many of th!e best Liberals cf the town and district, men and women who .put principles before politicians, will have nothing,"to dd with an organisation which is paplably maintained for the one and only purpose of keeping a certain set of men in office. The liberals of Wanganui will choose their own candidate, and will not be dictated to by the emissary of Messrs. Seddon and company. This, at any rate, is the inference we draw from the' reported attitude of the majority of those who attended last .night's meeting.