THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 4

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

PLEDQE-BREAKINQ. CONDEMNED BY AUCKLAND WORKERS. "REGRETTABLE OCCURRENCE." lUj , Telecrapli-Prcßß Association.; Auckland, February 29. The Auckland brunch of tlio Labour party has unanimously passed a resolution congratulating Mr. Veilch on his political honesty mid integrity, and while not committing itself to the wisdom or otherwise of the pledges, condemning the action of two so-called Labour politicians, Messrs. Payne and Robertson, in breaking iaith with their constituents. The meeting was of the opinion that the two referred to .should hand in their resignations. The resolution «lso stated that the. Labour party was in no way connected with the regrettable occurrence.

PRESS OPINIONS. "ONE OF THOSE HARDEN ] VICTORIES." (By Tdccraph.—Scsclal CorressonSenU Auckland, February 28. Commenting on the result of the division on the no-confidence motion, the "Herald" says: The Government scored last night one of those barren victories which nro more to be avoided by popular parties than any defeat, for it was due solely to the fact that several members were, induced to break their election pledges, and thus to defeat not only Mr. Massey's no-confidence motion, but the distinct and unmistakable intention of the country. That some excuse and apology might be forthcoming for this disregard of political pledges was evidently one of the causes for the extraordinary bundle of protestations and promises termed tho Governor's Speech, but it is not to be thought that the electorates will accept them as readily when they have an opportunity to givo an opinion on tho subject. However, for the moment Sir Joseph Ward has avoided dismissal from office, and with his collsugues can breatho as freely as possible in tho knowledge that the exerciso of every influence known to party organisers finds him entrenched behind the casting vote of the Speaker. It is noteworthy that to obtain even this reprieve the most unusual proffers have been made by Ministers who only three months ago toured the Dominion as its masters. Resignations have been offered to the House with emotional ardour and with a strange and the novel recollection that on the voting of members depends the fate of the Government and the dignity of Ministers. This is a new attitude for occupants of the Treasury benches, and some allowance may possibly lx> made for inexperienced members who were misled by belated professions - , and who were evidently somewhat confused as to when, where, and how Ministerial pledges are to be kept and individual pledges to be broken. Sir Joseph Ward ■as an old politician must be as well aware as Mr. Mnssey that members cannot always be mustered in this fashion to tho support of a Government which cannot afford to lose a single vote. If defeat w.as avoided last night it may nevertheless be encountered on any division and cannot always be staved off. Indeed, if there is any meaning to the criticism of several of the members whose timely aid saved the Government on Mr. Massey's no-confidence motion the coup de grace is only being delayed. It is not constitutionally probable that there can be another general election until there has been a change of Government, liven the Government cannot expect to carry on through a session on a casting vote.- The victory obtained last night is barren indeed, however much Ministerialists may boast of it, and can only be a prelude to final defeat in the House and to a crushing defeat when the ultimate appeal to the country is made.

"SATISFIED, IF'iNOT TRIUMPHANT." Auckland, February 28. The. "Star" says: "Jmlijcd by ordinary political standards, a victory that is won only by the casting vote of the Speaker is hardly a matter for much congratulation, hut in this case the opponents of Liberalism have so conducted themselves that they have supplied nil true Liberals in and nut of Piirliampiit with the best reasons for feeling satidied, if not triumphant, over the outcome pi' the division. Mr. Massey and his friends have committed the egregious mistake of making too sure of their victory. In their exaggerated confidence in themselves and their joy over their unexpected success at the polls they have far transgressed the bounds ot discretion nnd decorum. . . . AVe have no apprehensions about tho political destiny of Liberalism in the near future, for with a reconstructed Cabinet or under a new leader the Liberal Government can depend upon the support of many inside and outside the House who have i'elt constrained, for various reasons, to vote against ";he Ward Administration, and that now this crisis has been safely weathered, wo have no doubt that wlien Parliament reassembles the Liberals, supported by their natural allies, the representatives of Labour, will at once set about carrying into effect a programme of farreaching political.and social reforms.

"NOT A VERY IMPRESSIVE TRIUMPH." (By Telcerapli.-Siieoial Correspondent.) ti. ' .<t ~c , , ; r istclil" - i ;h, February i>9. ine Lyttellon Times" admits that it w.as surprised at the House's verdict but says tlinf; it expressed the feeling. \ vie-' tory resting upon the casting vote of the hpenker is not a very impressive triumph, ami we. do not pretend to believe that, standing alone, it ensures n long term of office to the victors, but the significant feature of last night's division is the fact that nil the Independents and Labour members who were left at liberty to make a choice for themselves voted with the Progressives. They showed eniphatieallv the direction in which the political thought of their constituents is trending and the allies with whom they intend to reach their goal. The events of the lust month have brought Liberalism alu \ j;.,. bour nearer together than they have been at any time during the past decade, and it only requires a little enthusiasm and a. little tact to revive all alliance that would make them indisputably the dominant factor in (ho polities of tho two parties to take steps in this direction at the earliest possible moment. Possibly the present Parliament may endure for its full term, but an early appeal to the constituencies looks much more probable, and the Progressives ought to be prepared for nr, election next spring. We hopethat in view- of the very uncertain position, the Government, whatever its constitution may be, will lose no time in providing the country with an efficient system of registration and a sane electoral law. These are (he (wo great safeguards that aro required by the democracy, and when they are secured the party that deserver, their support will bo quite ready to trust the people. AX EARLY DISSOLUTION. The "Otago Daily Times" states :-'l'hn narrow escape of the Government is, of course, attributable to the success of the wire-pulling which was curried on while the debate was protracted by the Ministerialists, and equally of course the Government could not, even if ji reconstruction of it had not been promised, remain in power on such a majority. But (he reconstructed Government will have even less chance of carrying mi than thr. Government headed by Sir Joseph Ward had. The result of the division seems, in fact, to bring an early dissolution of Parliament within thu bound.--, not merelv of possibility, but actually of probability. . . . We cannot help (hiiikiiig that the action of two members of the Labour pnrty of four in repudiating their solemn pledges to the clectcis will do an i IVI . niense injury lo the parly to which they belong. Whether il does' that or not, however, it must be perfectly evident tli.it the political days of these two individuals will bo brief. Strangely enough, .Mr. Roh. prison expressed in (he course of his speech a hope that the Labour party would raise jxilitics in the ecuntrv to a higher level than Hint of the past. Wo may remind Mr. Robertson, however, that it is not upon n. foundation of broken pledaes that any member or parly of members will improve (he tone of politics.