WELLINGTON NOTES:

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES:

THE LIBERAL PARTY

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

(Our Special ConesyOridbrit;

WELLINGTON, May id

The Liberal Party's declaration of independence is regarded fi'oiii widely different standpoints bj' Uie three local papers, each of them, of course, viewing it with its owH jMtty diicl political predilections. The “New Zealand Times” sees in it fresh evidence of the .readiness of the iLiberdl Ministers and their followers in placing the welfare of the country before any personal advantage they might obtain from a 1 continuation of tiie coalition compact. The “ijominion,” on tiie other hand, more in sorrow than in anger, thinks it especially undesirable that the party slimtld “oppose obstacles id that liiiion of ali progressive elements which, by inbst jlobple, is ediisidered essential in the national interests,” aii'd the “Post” regrets that “dissensions drtd difficulties” between the two old parties will provide the rising power of an enthusiastic, itnd well-organised Labour Party with a uniqilc opportitnity. .

PUBLIC OPINION. As with the papers, so with tiie public. There arc people who are weL coming the prbspect of the resumption of pattv aetivitibs iii tiie belief that it Will qiiickbn tlib political life of the country find improve its legislation Bfid administration, find theare fire others deploring the certainty of strife and iiitntbil being resumed arid the diifiger bf the revolutionary elements gaining tiie upper hand. Just on which side the greater weight of opinion lies it would be difficult, to say. That there is very wide-spread dissatisfaction with the National Government there can be no possible doubt. Its very constitution has made this inevitable. Composed of politicians, equally balanced, disposed to pull in different ways on many vital questions, no material progress could be made, and this is now being counted to the discredit of the Cabinet as a whole. The peril from tiie Labour Party seems to be the only bond of union.

Mil RUSSELL’S ATTITUDE. The absence of the Hon. G. W. Rus- ' sei, the Minister of Internal Affairs from the Liberal caucus at which the declaration was made, naturally has given rise to a great deal of ■ co'mment. The. explanation that . l> e was engaged at a meeting of the Health Board, but that Was altogether insufficient to satis, fy public curiosity. The truth is that Mr Russell excused himself oh the ground that be did hot think 'he dctcrfninatioh of the party should be iiiade till tlits party leaders returned to the Dohiinibn a lid Were prepared to give their followers a lead. He did not for a moment Wish to pose as having a finer seiise of proprietory than his colleagues had, but this was his view.and iii the circumstances he preferred to abstain from subscribing to the declaration. His action was in ho way clue to ahy weakening in his adherence to Liberal principles. THE ACTING LEADER. .

The Hon. W. I). 8. MacDonald, the Acting Leader of the Liberal Party, when Seen to-day said that at present lie had no wish to add anything to {he official report of the proceedings fit the caucus or to offer any comment lip on Mr Russell’s attitude. He might explain however, if the explanation were necessary, that the caucus was held with the full approval of the leader of the party, who was anxious that his supporters should understand exactly where they stood in regard to the approaching election, which could not be indefinitely postponed. The resolution adopted by the members of the party would make ho difference at all, in their loyiilty to the party triice so long as it remained iii operation, or to their cordial relations with the Ministers aiid private members who in the natural course of things would become their political opponents. Tt was as much in fairness to these gentlemen, indeed, as in justice to thehistilves that they had frankly expressed their intentions.