“BACK TO SEDDON.”

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1922, Page 1

“BACK TO SEDDON.”

LIBERAL-LABOUR SLOGAN

MR AVILFOHD OPENS CAMPAIGN AT PETONE.

SPEECH BY MR STATU A M

WELLINGTON, * Feb. 22. The Empress Threat re. Petono, was crowded in every part last nightymany having to he content with standing room only—on the occasion of the first public meeting held under the auspices of the new United Liberal-Labour Progressive Party. The Mayor (Mr ,T. W. McEwnn) presided, the Municipal Band turned out in honour of the occasion, and the time while the big audience was assembling was whiled away by the hand, and by songs by three soloists who had volunteered their services. MR WILFORD’S SPEECH. Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P.. (loader of the new party) was greeted with loud and long-continued applause. “T I claim, v he said. “ one record at least. I am the first New Zealander who has ever been Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New Zealand; and, though up to to-day there has never been a New Zealander Prime Minister I jf this country, it does not follow that such an event may not take place. The new party, brought into being reently, has to thank the Massey press if New Zealand and Mr Massey himself for its birth. The continuous gibes and sneers at those sections of the Opposition, which were disunited, gave that impetus to the movement which has ended in success and, in this, my first public statement, I desire to place my obligation on record.” (Hear, hear and laughter.') “ CITIZEN PEACE. NOT CLASS AVAR.”

“ Various papers are suggesting that we should join the Conservative Party. nowadays known as the Reform party hut it is impossible for my party to join) either a party loci by Mr Massey, or a party led hv Mr Holland. Both these parties, in our opinions. represent ‘extremes’ in politics. The new party, though it stands against, the Holland Party, stands for the workers. as did the Liberal-Labour Party of old. (Applause.') It, wishes a citi••.on peace, not a class war. (Applause.) !t stands for government by Parliament, and not by Order-in-Counoil. (Hear, hear.) Instead of reckless expenditure and a. spendthrift policy, it stands for the true policy of economy, which conserves the public treasure md only spends on those good purposes which really promote the national well-being and raise the standard of life. (Applause.) The legislation •ve are getting to-day is very often the discredited legacy of an unfair and unjust election. Wo stand for the welfare of the whole people, and not of any class. AVe believe that if unity of opinion were possible or practicable, democratic institufionos would lore their significance. Wo wish to attach to us all men and women of moderate opinion, who wish to join us. We believe thnt the ma jority of the workers of this country are loyal citizen and anti-Bolshevist. (Hoar, hear.) Liberalism looks forward—hence the term ‘Progressive.’ Toryism stands for the existing division of classes—the keep-us-in-our-present-station attitude of mind. (Hear, hear.) Liberalism recognises no classes. It embraces all. Liberalism is an inclusive creed, while the others ai> exclusive. While Toryism desires to keep, and a. small seed

of Labour to take. Liberalism desires to maintain a fair balance. In other words, it is the pendulum which keeps the time for everyone. Any attempt to combine Conservatism and Liberalism neutralises both. In short, Liberalism and Moderate Labour, if T may use the latter term, stand for ‘all’ the people, not ‘some’ of the people. AVe believe that to attempt to drav

a line of demarcation upon purely class lines in a community like ours, at such a. time as this, is iho worst disservice that can he done to democracy. ft would not close hut would open the door to revolution. It would be a dis-

astrous departure. We believe that no class, great or small., rich or poor, is entitled to dictate tlie policy or to dominate the fortunes of New Zealand. (Applause). We firmly assert that tn peace and prosperity of New Zealand cap only he brought about by the mediating, reconciling, and progressive sirit of Liberalism. We believe that it can lie done by nothing else on earth, and that any political union between Liberals and Conservatives would create and aggravate the danger, and would help to breed Socialism or Communism, or worse. We further affirm that the junction of Liberals and Moderate Labour against Toryism and extreme Labour is the only guarantee of liberty and peaceful progress; and that ‘Liberty. fraternity, and (.qual opporunity for all’ are essential to human wellbeing, and must he kept in the forefront of the party’s pjrogramme. Wo recognise there are extremists to-day among the Tories and on the side of Labour. Both are a pestilence to society. You have the extremist who wants direct action, and the extremist, who, when a strike occurs, says ‘This is the chance to smash the unions.’ We believe in arbitration, an appeal td reason, with remedial suggestion at such times. Finally, let me say that waat is best in Labour is just Liberal, and nothing else; and what is sound in Labour is be application of Liberal principles. Unless we Lave a Liberal-La-bour Party in power we shall have a nrtred fight on class lines, which is unthinkable.” (Applause). “ACATNST CLASS RULE.” “AS IN THE SEDDON DAYS.” “We sincerely believe,” added Mr Wilford, “that the conjunction of the Liberals with Moderate Labour, as in the Seddon days, means the guarantee of liberty and progress. (Applause).

‘Back to Seddon’ is the cry of the Li-beral-Labour Party to-day. (Applause.) If you wipe out from the politics of the country that great party, whose watchwords are, “Liberty, fraternity, and equality of opportunity,” that party which stands between the extreme class parties on each side, you have at outlie class conflict which we all want 1 stop. Let the Holland and th e Reform parties annihilate the Liberal-Labour Party and you get the two classes at one another’s throats, which can end only in revolution. The Liberal-1,• hour Party must remain, therefore. The liest interests of the country dema ’’ it; and I believe Hi at the growth of this party, led by bold and virile men, between now and the next general election, will tell a. tale when the next poll is declared.” (Loud applause). It was, he stated, hip intention, and that of Mr Stn.tham and. others to tour the country ndvoanting the old LiberalLabour principles, and organising the

now Liberal-Labour Progressive Party; and at the close of that tour, some three weeks honce. lie would return to Petone, when he hoped to see as big and enthusiastic a meeting as he had had that night; and he would thou declare the political programme on which the new party meant to fight from then on. (Applause). In conclusion, he thanked the Municipal Band for turning out; he thanked the singers; he thanked Mr McEwan for presiding; and thanked the electors for the great gathering that had assembled there. (Loud applause). SPEECH BY MR. STATHAM.

Mr 0. E. Statham. who also had a freat reception, .said that Mr Wilford ind referred to his party, the Stathnm

Party. Well, that party, though it only had two representatives in Parliament. had he was convinced, a great following throughout the country. It stood for greet principles, and it put those principles far beyond any party

advantage or personal ambition. (Applause). That was why it had sunk its interests as a party, and he had sunk bis ambitions as a party leader to join the new Liberal-Labour Progressive Party under the leadership of Mr AVilford. (Applause). He might not be able to get so much of his own way ?n the new party as he could in his own party-, but he believed that he won! bp able to do far more for the good of the country as a whole; fa r more to uphold and uplift the standard of life—not only material, but moral and political in the Dominion. These were not times when the men opposed to class rule a.nd governmental extravagance could afford to stand aloof from one another, disunited, ineffective, each man

thinking only of his own party interests, of his own individual ambitions, (They had got to come together and to make common cause against the extremists on either hand, who would govern the country in their own class interests, and thus bring it to disaster. (Applause). They wanted all loyal men and women of moderate opinions, all who wore opposed to class domination to rally round them. (Applause.) The Labour men and women were often accused of disloyalty; hut he was sure that the great rank and file of Labour was loyal. (Applause.) And even if

here were some so-called Labour disloyalists. thev were not the only disloyalists. Ho considered that some of the great profiteers were the most disloyal men we had ever had in New Zealand, and they generally belonged to the Massey Party. (Hoar hear.) Our public debt was now 200 millions sterling;

and we bad a Government in power til art. was absolutely incompetent to manage tbo finances of tbe country. There was not a real business man in

it. (Hear, bear.) A T et Mr MnsSiey had said that, given ten secretaries he could run the whole country. (T aughter).

Mr AVilford: But he did not say where to. (Loud laughter). “What we wa.nt to bring about-,” declared Mr Stathnm, "is a Government which will represent all the people and will work in the best interests of

people, not a Government which will govern by regulation and legislate by exhaustion. (Applause). What we want to-day, more sorely than ever before is. as a great Amercian put it, ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people.’ ” (Loud applause). At the call of the Chairman a hearty round of applause was accorded the two speakers. On the motion of Mr Wilford, ai hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation; and the meeting closed with the singing of “Anld Lang, Syne.”