LETTERS THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 173, 17 April 1920, Page 7

LETTERS THE EDITOR

THE LIBERAL LEADER'S FIGURES HOW DOES HE GET THEM? . Sir-The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, in his statement on the Bruce byelection published in your columns, makes a must interesting insinuation ,Dr suggestion,, i.e., that the Liberal and the extreme Labourites together with tho Moderates .and..lndependents, form «. 6olid opposition, under his leadership. The Liberal Leader's words are:— "Mr. Edie's return would reduce the Reform majority from eight to six." Query—ought it not to be ten? Has an arrangement been made by which these elements ore united into one homogenous whole? If not. wih.it right has Mr. Mac Donald to presume to spenit for them collectively and individually? If the arrangement has.been made to unite Lib-Labism under • Mr. MacDonald's leadership, as a solid Opposition, then the country. ought to bo acquainted wjth the'fact. It would excite quite as mur/h discussion and concern as further Cabinet appointments—, if.not more. Assuming: Hint, the suggestion, delicately' conveyed by the Liberal Leader, is true, what has become of the stentorian announcements of tho ex-Liberal Leader and of several members'of the Liberal Partv, including Mtr. Mac Donald 'himself, I believe,- that on no account would the Liberal .Party unite witih the Red Daggers ami Bolshevists in politics? Is it not possible that, after all. notwithstanding the emphatic denial of Liberals, a certain Labour candidate unguardedly spoke the naked truth when he. announced that an arrangement had been made that, in the event of the extremists not being able to form ft Government, Sir Joseph Ward would lead the united Lib-Lab party. Mr. Mac Donald's name being substituted for Sir Joseph W-nrd's—the statement referred to appears to coincide with the present statement issued by the Liberal Leader. Has Labour * signed the treaty?* If so, what are the terms .and how many other signatories are there to the pact? If there is no pact or arrangement, then hnw does Mr. MacDonald get his majority' figures' In the meantime Mr. Edie may well be, complimented 'Oil Lis victory—l am etc.,HOWARD ELLIOTT.