IMPATIENT LIBERALS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 218, 25 October 1916, Page 5

IMPATIENT LIBERALS.

(Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Oct 24. The rumours that have been on foot for some time concerning a movement within the Liberal Party for the appointment of an independent leader during the continuance of the National Cainbet are now taking definite shape and it is possible to form some idea of what is in the minds of the progressive politicians who are growing impatient of the restraints placed upon them by the “party truce.” The movement is in no way hostile to Sir Joseph Ward. On the contrary, its promoters believe that by appointing a temporary leader to look after the interests of the Liberal Party in the meantime they will make Sir Joseph’s task when he returns to his natural place in politics all the easier. As a precedent they quote the case of Mr. Bonar Law, who, while putting his services unreservedly at the disposal of the Coalition Government at Home in everything directly appertaining to the war, reserves to himself all the rights and privileges belonging to an independent leader of the Unionist Party in dealing with domestic affairs. Of course, Sir Joseph Ward has not been consulted by the promoters of the movement, and probably he would have given them little encouragement if he had been; but the other Liberal members of the Ministry, though insisting upon unanimity within the Cabinet, see no cause for alarm on account of the impatient spirits wishing to move the Stare coach along a little faster than it hae been proceeding during the last two | years.