LIBERALS AND EXTREMISTS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15974, 17 November 1919, Page 5

LIBERALS AND EXTREMISTS

STATEMENT BY THE HON. W, D. S. MACDONALD. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, in the course of his speech at Rotorua, said; “A gentleman the other night had said a good deal about Labour- and extremists and exploiters. There were extreme sections on both sides, and no doubt some exploitation was going on. but efforts were being made to check it. When in office, he sent two experienced men to Australia, and on the information they brought back was framed the Board of Trade Act, which the best legal advice in New Zealand informed him was the best Act for the purpose in the world. His friend had also said that Sir Joseph Ward would do anything to get into power, and had leanings towards the Labour section. Either he was grossly misinformed or was deliberately lying. (Applause.) None of the Liberal Party believed in upholding the extremists in any way. They did not want to have anything to do with the sedition monger, the trouble maker, the man who did not know whether he was loyal or not, the man who could not sing ‘‘God Save the King” or “Rule Britannia.” They did not want such men in Parliament. (Loud applause.) The • Liberal Party had put up men against the Labour extremist members in elections: it remained to be seen if the Reform Party would put up men to split the vote.' In Auckland the Reform Party had put up men against Liberals who were being opposed by the.extremists, and if the Bolshevik Party came into power, who would be to blame? (Interruption, and a voice: “Who are the Bolsheviks?”). There were Bolsheviks in New Zealand, and there were some of them in this district.” (Applause.)