THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3587, 24 September 1920, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

OLD PARTY DIVISIONS GONE/ LIBERALS. WITHOUT A LEADER. . ‘ 4 ' ; :: "7 ■ BLENHEIM. Sept. 23. During tHe course of an interviewwith an Express reporter, Mr R. McCallum, member for Wairau, said the old dividing lines of Conservative and Liberal have disappeared, or Lave so merged converged as to leave It somewhat difficult for many to discover distinguishing party principles. The disappearance of Sir Joseph Ward from New Zealand politics has still further promoted this situation, as it has left no one with the outstanding ability and authority he pos-* sessed to declare the policy of the Liberal Party, lam not alone among those'who followed Sir Jose j.a "Ward and the late Hon. MacDonald in find-, ing that I cannot accept Mr Wilford as my leader. In such a situation. I find it due to* my constituents and myself to define my position in the House to day. I stand for political principles, bat have no political leader. WELLINGTON. This day. Commenting on Mr McCallum’s telegraphed statement, Mr Wilford said that Messrs Witty and McCallum left the party now led by him on 7 h September. They informed him That they could not follow him as a leader. Later on. Mr Witty had stated p" v licly in Parliament that he was not working under his (Mr Wilford’s) leadership. Mr McCallum had now made his position plain, and the whole incidcur had been clean, sjraight-ybr-ward. and above board.