MR WILFORD’S TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1924, Page 3

MR WILFORD’S TOUR.

SUPPOIST FOR LIB'HU ALTSAf. “It lias been an eye-opener and a daily surprise to me," declared the leader of the Opposition. .Mr T. .M. Wilford to a "Post" representative at Wellington on Saturday morning in summarising the impressions of the tour uf the northern districts, from which lie returned on Friday. Air Wilford said he had had no difficulty in securing candidates in the cause of Liberalism for the next election. In some electorates as many as four gjenfJemen wore offering themselves, and it was being left to the local exeeutive committees to make the selections. Fvory where lie had had enthusiastic demonstrations of the support behind his party. Never before, be declared, bad be experienced anything like the recept.oils he had in and around Auckland. In every Reform constituency in which he spoke, either votes of confidence in his party, or of no-confidence in the Reform Administration, were passed In some instances lie had been accorded votes of eonlidenee in face of prepared Reform opposition, as. for instance. in tbe Prime Minister's strongbold at Pukekobe. There tbe mover of an amendment of uo-confidcuec in tbe Liberal Party and of i-onfideneo in the Reform fiovorunicnt read bis proposal from a typewritten document which was certainly prepared beforehand. tbe meeting, consisting of between 100 and .100 defeating tbe motion by three to one. ‘‘ln my thirty-two years of political life." said Mr YVilford, “I have never been in a scene of such enthusiasm as occurred after the meeting. At Thames, a Reform constituency. where we bad a. full ball, on a show of bands in favour of our party, eight bands went up in support of Reform and against our resolution of no-confidence in that party. Again, in Hamilton, another Reform constituency. an overwhelming majority declared for the-Liberal Party. It bad lieen decided to call only for a vote of thanks at tnat meeting, but an enthusiastic supporter moved an amendment of confidence. which swept the meeting." All along the route of his tour he had lieen received enthusiastically by prominent business men and larmers. who wished him well in bis campaign. In Auckland city, where Labour was strongly represented in tbe House, lie bad a meeting of between 2000 and 6000 ]h.*ople. and after a big battle against considerable opposition a vote of thanks and confidence in the Liberal Party was carried with cheers. T)r. T. YY. Levs declared that tbe central organi-a-tion in Auckland was never stronger in the time of Yfr Seddon. *• Mr Wilford said he had not found Labour strong in the country districts, hut in the main centres they certainly lKissesscd strength, notably, in Auckland city, where several seats wore held at present by Labour men, but all these seats would be hotly contested, and be had candidates ready. The leader of the Opposition will leave* YVellington to-dav on his southern tour, which he will start in the Wnitaki electorate. SOUTHERN TOUR. CHRISTCHURCH. .Tune 17. Mr T. AT. Wilford arrived from the North this monning and speaks at YVaimate this evening. Owing to the illness of Sir H. Rhodes and Air Burnett, he has decided not to give addresses in electorates.