"WHAT IS IN A NAME?"

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 650, 29 October 1909, Page 3

"WHAT IS IN A NAME?"

Sir,—l was rather amused last evening while listening to the debate on the Loan Bill, now before the House, to hear Mr. Ell; the member for Christchurch, ; twitting Mr. Massey. with being tho representative of a: party who had-so often changed name. They'(the Opposition) were referred to by Mr. Ell as "old Tories," "Conservatives," "Employers' Association," and,' lastly, "The Reform Party." Personally, sir, I think this name suits the party Mr. Massey, has the honour of leading —as Conservative 1 suited• the party, the Hon. Sir W. K. Russell—has had the honour to lead for so many years. Why Mr. Ell or any other Liberal should object to the term Conservative has always puzzled me. 'The Liberals are lovers of Henry George, and he defines Conservatism thus: "Go to the root and ' conserve that which is best." Captain Russell, the late Leader of the. Opposition, is one' of the most refined and just gentlemen, within the' Dominion. Mr. Massey, his, successor, has never changed his conviotions nor wavered from his platform pledges since he first entered public life. does not look the sort of man to be easily twisted nor ■ turned from his principles (not from fads).' He_ cannot be accused of wanting to draw a'single, sixpence from tho pockets of the peoplo more .than any ordinary member of. the House.-. When the late -Mr. Seddon wanted to alter the, law in reference to tho' salaries, so' that the Leader of the .'Opposition., would have received an honorarium, such as .a Minister of the day, Mr.. Massey stoutly opposed if. To come'back to Mr. Ell's play upon names, I would 1 ask • him''to'c&st his memory. back' to 1892-3. The' Canterbury Liberal Association was established to maintain the late Messrs. Ballance and Seddon in their political .strong- , hold. Mr. Ell, with some -other gentlemen, were very dissatisfied with, the way the. asso-, ciation was; run, so'they withdrew, themselves and started another association, calling themselves the, "Progressive . Liberal. Association.!' TV principal ■ members' ■(! »tMhk theW 1 " nve) of this organisation were the Revs. L. M. and F. Isift, Mr. 'T. E; Taylor, Mr. Ell, ana, I think, a Mr. Billcliff. ■ Mr. Ell was secfetary. By circular letter sent to every. known organisation throughout . New . Zealand, Mr. Ell . made himself known;. ■> Docs :Mr. Ell consider that the' change of name, in the case of tho Reform party, a discreditable thing? If so; ho'w,aboiit ;Mr.'Ell's Liberalism? He objected to the Liberal party who, so ably assisted the late Mr. Seddon and the present Primo Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and started a little show of his own to reform, the Liberal party. Yet now he is tooth and nail fighting for Sir Joseph Ward's policy measures, even to the increasing, of; the burdens-ofvthe taxpayers—tho working classes—for who feels the pinch so much as tho working man with a largo family? In conclusion, 1 would tell Mr. Ell the old saw that they who live in glass houses should not'throw stones.—l am, etc., OLD-TIME POLITICIAN. 'October 2".