MR WILFORD.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1923, Page 4

MR WILFORD.

OPPOSITION LEADER ENTERTAINED. ELECTORAL REFORM. WELLINGTON’. September 5. A complimentary social was tendered to Mr Wilford. Leader of the Opposition, prior to leaving for the East on Friday-. All- Wilford said: I have read an account of .Mr Holland's speech at Dannevivke. He says there is no difference between Reform and tile Liberal-Labour Party led by me. If he says there is no difference between the Reform Party and tho Liberal-Labour Party led by me as far as loyalty to the King and Empire is'concerned be stated a positive fact, but if lie says we aro agreed on social legislation lie is wrong. But 1 do not think I need further bother to answer such .statements'.) Both statements arc incorrect. Wc. arc a. buffer between the reactionary extremists led by Mr Holland. They would both like to destroy our party, tor if is in the "ay. By tben united efforts they llied to destroy us in last session. Though with that common purpose they worked overtime they failed signally, as tho whole Dominion admits. As to tlie so-called legislative reform suggested hy the nc-w Electoral Bill it is necessary to look hack to the session of 1922, just prior to last general election. In that session the House had a division for proportional representation, when tho Liberal-Labour Party and 'Labour Party voted together. They were beaten bv the Reform Party, which then had n larger number of supporters than it has to-day. After losing that division the House was divided in favour of prcferoutal voting, and the LilicrnlLnbour Party, having lost the division for proportional representation, voted for preferential voting as being an improvement on the present iniquitous system of first-past tho post. On this division Mr Holland and the members of his party joined Mr Massey in dishing the Liberal-Labour Party. Wo feel to-day that a strong horse is needed, called Electoral Reform, to carry us over the dreary desert of parliamentary elections as at present conducted. Though we. consider that the horse provided by the present Government is piebald, nevertheless we think that a pidbald horse is better than no horse, and with certain committee alterations we think the present suggested legislation may be considered an advance on the present system, though not such nn advance as we would have provided in the form of proportional representation with maintenance of tho country quota had we had the opportunity of framing legislation. In ; 1912 Sir .Tames Allen, on behalf of j the Government, stated that the Gc- j verhment intended repealing tho second j ballot and substituting another method ! of election, therefore it has taken the 'Government- eleven years to make an ] attempt to carry out this promise. As I to their sincerity in this attempt at : improvement I have very grave doubts. ‘ Time will show whether these doubts j are justified or not. |