LIBERAL LABOR PACT IMPOSSIBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1928, Page 4

LIBERAL LABOR PACT IMPOSSIBLE

AIR VEITCH’S STATEMENT

“Ho predicted that bite re the end of the present year a Liberal-Labour understanding would be a;rived at,'' stated Mr W. A. Veitc-h, AI.P., for Wanganui, and Leader of the Now Zealand Liberal Party In a communication to the United Political party in Auckland, criticising the statement made by Air AY. J. Jordan, ALP., fer Alanukau, at Tc Papapa, as reported in tho “Auckland Star” of April 27. Air Veitch added that the statement called for more than the passing notice of all who wished this country well.

“Air Jordan, whose sincerity no one who knows him will question, appears to have come to the conclusion that the present Government cannot he defeated unless there is a combination of moderate Labour and the Liberals;

It is certainly true that that combination under the Ballanee Government won the 1890 election, saved the country from industrial stagnation and insolvency and gave it a quarter of a century of prosperity and goodwill. A Liberal and Labour combination could do the same tiling to-day. “Up to this point Air Jordan’s problem is a simple one, but the political situation is not tho same to-day. Communism was practically unknown in 1890; now we have a Labour party with a leader who hates a Liberal ten times more than he does a Conservative. His anti-Liberal sentiments and

tactics have done more to strengthen tlio present Government than all the expensive advertisements and ridiculous pictures of the Prime’ Alinister leading the Eriipire to victory. Air Holland’s strong dislike to everything that savours of Liberalism has become an obsession that has warped bis judgment, and led him to adopt erroneous tactics which have proved invaluable to ReTorm election after election. TACTICS OF LABOUR PARTY. “During his leadership the tactics of the Labour party as applied to Pnrliarrientray elections have been to vote /'for the candidate when there has been no Labour party candidate, and to nominate a Labour party candidate wherever there has been. c. possibility of defeating -a Lib-, eral candidate, even if the Labour candidate lias lio chance to win it

for himself. By this means it may be possible to eliminate Liberals, but it is quite impossible to eliminate Liberalism.

“Air Holland is attempting the impossible, but assuming that he could succeed, what would have been accomplished? It will be recognised by all that the Labour party can never form a Government until they have eliminated the Communists and other extremists and become in effect a Liberal party. “I ft’ould ask the wage-earners to consider whether it is worth while continuing these destructive tactics and thus keeping a Conservative Government in power for 25 or 30 years merely to exchange one Liberal party for another?” continued Air A 7 eitch. “So long as these tactics continue Reform will have a great and unfair advantage at the polls and unemployment will remain with us.” ANTI-LIBERAL PREJUDICE.

' “It would appear that some members of the Labour.party are with Air Holland in this anti-Liberal prejudice, while others are not, but the issue cannot be clouded by a general statement that Air Coates’ majority is entirely due io the advertising campaign, for such is not the case. For years the people have wished for a change of Government. They will most certainly get it if the Labour party will reverse its policy of attrition hitherto eoheenfrated against the Liberals with immense advantage to the Conservative party. “I appreciate. Mr ..Jordan’s sincerity and goodwill in .this, matter, but ft’ould lilto him to tell us how he would

ideal with the points I have raised. Some: explanation is also called for of the fact that although the Labour i party declaims against the Communists it retains a political leader who has described himself as a believer in the philosophy of Karl Marx. This is the reverse of Liberalism and unthinkable to Liberals.

“In the face of these fact’s it would appear the Labour party consists of two sections. The first might be called the Socialist section, while the other are for the British constitution and, in fact, believe in Liberalism. These latter would bo a decided acquisition to the Liberal party and Liberalism, but the visionary socialists as represented by Mr Holland would do infinitely more harm to the country from within the party than they can ever do where they are. These latter would no doubt prefer 1 to keep Mr Coates- in power on account of the decidedly bureaucratic trend in bis policy, as, for instance,

the bus regulations, compulsory dairy control, wido expansion of State Departments and State financial operations, and control of the people by State officials, .whereas Liberalism is based on a fuller individual liberty and encouragement of individual effort.

“The only way T can suggest to prevent workers’ votes being used to strengthen the present Government is that those members of the Labour party who realise, as I do, that it has drifted to visions and extremes under Mr ,Holland’s; leadership and has strengthened Deform to advance Mr Holland’s ambition, should vote Liberal and let the dreamers of the millennium follow their natural leader, wherever their vivid imaginations may guide them.” In conclusion Mr Veit'eh stated that 1 with all respect ho would say this question was one that could only be settled by the members of tile Labour party themselves.