WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE LIBERAL-LABOUR ALLIANCE. “BACK TO SEDDON.” SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. Wellington, Fob. 22 The United Liberal-Labour Progressive Party—which is, it must be confessed, starting out upon its career under a somewhat cumbersome name—fired what tnfly he regarded as til? first shot in the election campaign at Pctone last night. Mr Wilford and Mr Statham, the leaders of the amalgamated parties, addressed it large arid very enthusiastic audience in the local theatre and, as smite of their friends put it, started tho game with a very satisfactory kick off; If the meeting did nothing else'it showed that the organisation of tlie new party is already counting and that the amalgamation is finding favour with a large number of tbe workers in a working men’s district. Ivv the reiteration of tbe happy slogan “Back to Seddon” Mr Wilford won many a hearty round of' applause and by the frank acceptance of the leadership of bis former lival Mr Statbam did much to silence the gibes of the small minority that had com? to scoff against the 'cim: dn ided against itself. THE NEW ERA.

Mr Wilford is both a quotcr aiul a maker of phrases and his talent in these directions was never better displayed than it was in addressing his big audience last night. The new party, he said, stood for all classics, and not for any particular class. It wished a citizen peace, Hot a class war. It stood for Government by Parliament, and not by Order-iii-Council. “The legislation .\'e are getting to-day is very often Jindiscredited legacy of ah unfair and unjust election.” he declared. “We stand for the welfare of’the whole people, and not of any one class. Liberalism recognises no classes. It embraceall. Liberalism is an inclusive creed, and the eibeds of its opponents are exclusive. While Toryism desires to kep and a small section of Labour to take Liberalism desires to maintain a fair balance.” The repetition of p’atitudes of this kind may not count for much in print, but it was very effective from the platform last night, and an already friendly audience was moved to a high pitch of enthusiasm.

THE PROGRESSIVE MODERATES. Mr Stathain was scarcely so effective as was his new leader, but lie found scarcely less favour with the audience. His old party, now merged with the Liberals, he said, had stood for great principles and it put these principles far beyond aiiy party advantage or personal ambition. That was why it had sunk its interests as a party and he had sunk his ambitions as a party leader to join th« new Liberal-Labour Party under the leadership of Mr Wilford. He might not be able to get so much of his own way in the new party as he had done in his old party, but he believed

he would be able to do far more for the good of the country as a whole, far more to uphold and uplift the standard I of life, materially, morally and political-1 ly. This, of course, was the proper I note for the occasion and Mr Statham I struck it with an obvious faith and sin- I cerity that at once installed him in the 1 goodwill of the audience Mr Wilford had I inspired. WHAT IT ALL MEANS.

The general public is not yet taking the AAMlford-Statham coalition and its new party quite seriously, but there can be no doubt that last night’s meeting from the party’s point of view was a great success and will do much to attract attention to the movement. The opportunity of the Liberal-Labour Progressives lies not so much in anything j the Prime Minister has done or left undone, but in the deplorable weakness of

liis colleagues. Mr Massey’s mana, even the good Liberal and urdjent Socialist are bound to admit, remains unimpaired. The head of the Government is the whole of the Government so far as initiative and achievement are concerned. At one time Mr Seddon was in much the saine position and still survived. Hut Mr Massey is carrying a greater weight of years than the great Liberal leader did during the more strenuous period of his long term of office and should 1 his health fail the present Administration certainly could not continue.