POLITICAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1925, Page 1

POLITICAL.

SO.AJ !■: DJSOLUSUKKS. WLLLI.NGTUX, Nov. 12. .Mr K. Al’Cuihim, cx-Libci'al member lor W'uirau, who was defeated by .Mi' Girling :iL the election lias supplied the following statement to the press: "1 know many former Liberals think -Mr Witty deserted the Liberal fold and is hliitneable lor keeping tile Itctorm I’arty in power during the last Parliament. for my part, and in the absence of a fresh appeal to the country, 1 do not see how he could as an honest man have acted otherwise than l:o did. Perhaps lie might be accused of weakness in even verbally pledging himself on the busting in 1922 to support Mr Massey if his (Mr Witty’s old party) could not eject Keform without tlio aid of Labour, but lie bad a. much lietter right In take up bis attitude than had Ron. M. Isitt, who, it is understood gave a written pledge, and nothing has been said about it. Mr Witty had a bet lei' right to take up that attitude than had Mr Isitt, because it was I lie latter who brought about the appointment of Mr Wilford as leader of the Liberal I’arty oil the death of Mr W. I). S. MacDonald, at the ill-advised, hurried, and improperly called caucus of nine Liberals. •‘When Mr Wilford was appointed, Mr Isitt, wlm bad previously buttonholed members to support Mr W'itty and 1 bad agreed before we tame to i lie caucus to propose and second the appointment of Air T. K. Sidey as acting-leader of the Liberal Party. -\ I this time Sir Joseph "Ward was out of politics, and his only possible successor, the lion. (now Sir Arllier) Myers, was absent temporarily in Kngland. We never suggested Air Sidey as a permanent leader, emerged from the ranks of the Liberal Party, either in or out of Parliament, we deemed him eminently the best equipped for the not very onerous position of acting-lender. In Air Sidey wo had given our personal pledges to stand by him. in the even! of his health not standing Ihe strain. At a late linin' of the caucus our suggestions worn ruthlessly brushed aside. Now this is just where Air Witty seared over Air Isitt. and forever put himself onside as a Liberal no! bound to follow Air W illord's leadership. Before the motion appointing -AD' Wilford was put. both Air Witty and [ left the room, after stating in most explicit, terms that it was praetieallx a 'hole and corner caucus,’ and the appointment. of Air A\ ilford was being attempted by an intrigue which was bound to end in disaster to the party. As a matter of fact, when I found how tilings were going, and that if was the* fixed determination of the other seven members to appoint Air Wilford in defiance of ail our pleas for an adjournment further consideration, or otliei reasons. I said: ‘This is the deathbed scene of the old Liberal Party as we i have known it.’