The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1927. A CALL TO THE UNFAITHFUL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1927. A CALL TO THE UNFAITHFUL

WHAT are the Liberals and those who still support and yearn for all the good things that the old Liberalism once stood for going to do about Sir Joseph Ward’s declared readiness to lead them back again into the Delectable Land? His call to the unfaithful to emerge from'the political wilderness and seek better fare than husks and wild honey demands a clear definitive answer from the various leaders of nomadic renegades. The lone leader of the genuine Liberal Party of one member in the House of Representatives is quite prepared, after a full thirty years of distinctive service for his country and Empire, to devote the russet period of his life to the great task cf restoring a palsied cause to a vigorous activity. In the archaic jargon of the Supreme Court crier on important occasions, “Ovez, oyez.. oyez!” What say ye Mr. Forbes 1 Mr. Veitch? Mr. Wilford? An expectant people eagerly awaits the response. It was in no mood of levity that Sir Joseph Ward, at Waiuku the other evening, revived old magic, raised a spark in the embers of the black fire of Liberalism and fanned it until his spellbound admirers cried out in triumph that “the flame of Liberal ism is burning brightly, in the Raglan electorate.” Dispassionate observers may be permitted to note, however, that the veteran magician, who rekindled the fire to a glow, was restrained and very moderate in his enthusiasm. Experience had taught him to be wary in his words so that the light of their burning might not turn out to be anything more ardent than wildfire playing vividly across the Liberal darkness. Of course, it was good to hear again the keen rising note of Liberal hope and Liberal optimism; and much better still to hear a true Liberal at last—the greatest Liberal of them all, indeed—speak more of the future than of the forgotten past. Thus the piquant curiosity of the happy audience became alive with something like enthusiasm when an old warrior in statecraft announced that, all along the line from Winton to Waiuku, he had been invited to accept the leadership of Liberalism. There was a time in polities when Sir Joseph showed a tendency to rush his fences. That time has passed. A fall or two and memories of strange happenings in the Liberal Party’s history have taught him to measure distance and look carefully at hurdles and the ground or bog beyond before taking a leap. So, in response to the widespread invitation to lead and leap to Liberal prosperity, he wisely made his acceptance of the position conditional on the completeness of party unanimity. This, in the circumstances, is a hard and a bitter condition, but it is inevitable and essential. Sir Joseph Ward once had a party. Where is that party now? Its members, save one who at least leads himself in the wisdom of honest loyalty, are now known by different aliases, mere wandering bands without a past, a present or a future. Will they, in the manner of the prodigal, leave the husks and return to their father’s house? The fatted calf is on the Reform Party’s farm, but a shrewd, competent raider might be able to secure” it for a Liberal feast. Unless the incompetent leaders of Liberal remnants and renegades in active politics be willing to abandon their silly masquerade and join forces under the old standard with an energetic statesman as the bearer, they need not waste their own time and that of the people in day-dreams of a Liberal revival. The unfaithful must first answer the call of their loyal chief.