POLITICAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, 24 December 1919, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

Leader of the Opposition. A reporter interviewed Mr Wilford, ex-Minister in the National Governwith reference to his opinion ns to tte leadership of the party for the future. Mr Wliford stated, in reply, that he had telegraphed to the fion. W. D. S. MacDonald, who had acted as leader of the Liberal Party during Sir Joseph "Ward's absence from New Zealand, suggesting that he (Mr MacDonald) should call a meeting of the Liberal Party in January next in order to discuss the position of electing a leader. Mr Wilford further stated that if Mr MacDonald consented to his suggestion, he (Mr Wilford) intended proposing Mr MacDonald us leader oi Ihe Liberal Party. * * * Political Secrets. A glimpse into the secret history of New Zealand was given by the lion. George l’owlds, in his address to the Grey Lynn electors. Mr Fowhls claimed to have been partly responsible for Mr Massey’s attainment of the Premiership, inasmuch as, when !>ir William llussell retired from the leadership of the then Opposition he had got a close.friend on the Opposition sido to use his influence to have Mr Massey elected to the office. Otherwise, he said, Sr James Alien and not Mr Massey would have become leader of his party. Again, Mr Powlds held that his owu retirement from the Ward Ministry had been immediately responsible for tho accession to office of the Massey j Government, because 15 of its supporters were elected in 1911 with majorities of less than 30, and he was. sure that what, was said and done in reference lo his rclirment was responsible for swinging over at least 15 tho Reform side of each of those electorates. But for such t ransfors. he estimated, Mr Massey’s party instead of having a majority would have been in a minority of 30. The Seven Independents. Will the Independent Party of seven members in the new Parliament bo used as a scourge for the old parties, or will they answer to the crack of the old party whip? Who thinks, for instance, that Messrs Sykes, Stathaiu and Stewart will sit on the cross benches? They will return to the allegiance of Mr Massey. Uru, he who is said to bo offering his vote to the highest bidder, will undoubtedly attach himseir to the party that has won. Colonel Mitchell ■ is also a Reformer, as well as Mr Lysnar; and who doubts the Liberal loyalty of Mr Craigic? The Moderate Labourites. There will be two Labour Parties in the new Parliament. Mr Vcitch is the acknowledged leader of the Moderates, and in the recently expired Parliament Mr Henry Holland divided the leadership of the Red Feds with Mr McCombs. The latter will now have an opportunity of getting back amongst sane Labourites, and should associate himself with Messrs Vcitch, Smith of Taranaki, and Kcllett of Dunedin. If Mr D. G. Sullivan, who has been closelj' associated with the trades unions of Christchurch, has any backbone, he also will dissociate himself from the extremists, and thus help to form the nucleus of the future Labour Party which is to become the dominating force in New Zealand politics. The Red Fed Group. ’’ It will be interesting to watch do-. , velopments amongst the seven extremists that have been returned as members of the House. Mr Holland Is the brains of the combine, but he is not popular enough to make a leader. We cannot imagine those seven— Messrs Holland, Fraser, Bartram, Savage, Parry, Howard, and Sullivan—as a very happy family. Of course, I they will insist on the Caucus, and. in order to avoid jealousy, they yill sit at a round table. Perhaps, even, they will take week about at the leadership; for a party must have a mouthpiece in Parliament. There are all tho elements for a very merry time in Amen Corner when the new Parliament gets under way. and there may be at least six parties: Reformers, Independent Reformers, Liberals, Independent Liberals, Moderate Labourites, and Official Labourites perhaps.— "Feilding Star."