Coquetting With Labor.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1922, Page 4

Coquetting With Labor.

MINISTER'S ASSERTION, AND A

REPLY

WELLINGTON, July 6. ' The Minister of Justice made a strenuous endeavour to-night to show ! tliaL a close alliance exists between the Liberals and extreme Labor. He asked i Air Wilford some leading questions on . the subject, hut heard nothing until lie : suggested that Mr Wilford would he j prepared to take office will}, the Labour ! Party oil tin; understanding that a Proportional Representation Act would be passed. Mr Wilford : .Most decidedly I would not hold office with the Ldsiur Party. Air Alassey: That is quibbling. Afr I ,ee put his point in fresh teinis, though somewhat involved, and w..s invited by the smiling Liberals to write it down or say it again. The Minister went oil to suggest that the Dunedin North bye-election provided dear evidence that the Liberals were qnile prepared to help extreme Labour hy pntInig a man forward to weaken the support for tho Government candidate. It. looked to him like ail affiance and lie wus going to watch next election very closely. Air At more turned the tables on the critics of the Liberals hy quoting “Hansard” to prove the close alliance' of I lie Reformers with Labour in 1911. This was the occasion when a loading Reform journal advised Reform supporters in Otaki to vote for the Red Fed Candidate ‘•rather than a supporter of the Continuous Ministry, so that the pigeon holes could lie examined hy a fresh set of men.” t Air Wilford: What do you think of that ? Mr Atnmro: Yes, ami the Alinisfer of Justice has the temerity to ask whether there is a pact between - the Liberals and extreme Labour, when his parlv was coquetting with them in 1914. Air Lee: Xoi the present Labour Party. Air Atnmre: Three or four of the leaders of that party were afterwards in gaol. That’s the party you were enqueuing with. (Laughter. - )