LIBERAL PARTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1924, Page 4

LIBERAL PARTY.

MR VHITCH DEFINES ATTITUDE. GISBORNE, May 18. The attitude of the Liberal-Labour Party was set forth by Mr \Y. A>. Veitcb, M.P. for Wanganui, in an interview bore. “No coalition of the Liberal-Labour and Reform parties is possible under the leadership of Mr Massey,” said Mr Veitch. He explained that the aim of the Liberal Party was to provide for the Dominion a stable constitutional Government, representative of all classes, and recognising no class distinctions. The Liberal members of the House were prepared to adopt a course that would provide the Government, and neither the lender (.Mr Wilfurd) nor any of the members would allow personal aspirations to take precedence against the welfare of the country. At the present time, however, tlie other two parties in the House represented two extremes. The Labour Party, favouring as it did the revolutionary measures of .Sovietism, could not command the support of a party which sought to be fully representative, while a coalition with .the Reform Party, which, under .Mr Massey. went to the opposite extreme, was cquallv impossible. The Liberal Party took the middle road between the other two pariies, and this he was convinced was the only road to a Government which would obtain the sup part and command the respect of the majority of the people.

It was recognised, said .Mr Veifeh, that a three-party Government with no party in the majority—a position which scorned very probable if an election was held under present conditions—could only result iu elmos. The remedy obviously lav in a fusion of forces, and this he believed could only be brought about by Reform members adopting a policy which was in accord with the wishes of the majority, and linking no with the Liberal-Labour Party. There was mu, he pointed out, a great deal of difference iu the policies of the two parties, hut there was a vast difference in the policy of Mr .Massey. “Rut that is not to say,” added Mr Veitch, "that a fusion is impossible under other circumstances. We are not seeking il in any way, lint are prepared to make our primary consideration the welfare of the country. ft should lie possible to obtain a sound, stable, constitutional Government from the members of the House, but il would be imnossible with Mr Mar-ev at the head.”