EXIT WARDISM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1379, 4 March 1912, Page 6

EXIT WARDISM.

WHAT NEXT? WILL TIIE TAIL WAG THE DOG? MR. MASSEY PUTS THE POSITION. Mr. Massey, Leader of the Reform party, leaves for Auckland to-day. In nn Interview yesterday ho expressed himself ns quite confident that no possible Cabinet that could be formed out of the remains 01 tho "Liberal" party could hold offico for more than a few weeks after tho meeting of Parliament. This seems to find fiupport from members of the "Liberal" party. Several of tho more shrewd members of that party mako no secret of tho fact that so far as they aro concerned, they cannot seo daylight through tho political fog in which they are at present enveloped. They also admit that UlO country, which is now so largely behind Jlr. Massey, will nover agree to be draeied

at tho heels of the two pledge-breakers. If this is to lw tolerated, it will be tho old story of tho toil wagging tho dog. Indeed, it-is no secret now that tho Labour members in tho I'louso have decided , to throw in their lot with tho proposed ultraradical Administration, for the simple reason that they realise they can squeeze that party because it is in tho weaker position and cannot act without their support. But in any caso the ultra-Uadicals, so far as the Reform party is concerned, are welcome to tho pledge-breakers, under whoso tarnished aegis Wardism has made an inglorious exit from the Parliamentary arena. „, Tho position from Mr. Massey's point of view is an exceedingly simplo one. Forty-one members havo been returned pledged to oust tho Ward Government. In addition there is an Independent, who lias condemned it more strongly than many a member of tho Reform party, yet voted to keep it in office. His political inexperience may perhaps bo some slight excuse for his speaking one way and voting another, and as time goes by he may have his eyes opened politically; Ho was .expected, even by the Ward party, to vote consistently with his expressed opinions, but disappointed his friends by voting for tho party that he had so vigorously condemned. Two members who were pledged to vote against the Government betrayed tho party that secured their return. Thus the division resulted in a tie, and the Speaker, according to precedent, gave his casting vote with the Government. Thero is, Mr. Mas=ey points cut, one very extraordinary announcement in connection with this result that should bo remembered and emphasised. It is this: Some of tho votes secured by tho discredited party" were obtained by means of an assurance that Sir Joseph Ward and his principal colleagues should ' resign from the' Ministry, and tako their place among the rank and file of tho party. Had this promise not been given, there is amplo evidence to show that the vote of no-confidenco would have been carried. This, Mr. Massey points out, must surely be a very humiliating position for the present Prime Minister and his colleagues to find themselves in.. But. Mr. Massey goes even further than that, and asserts, with, right on his side, that it is a most improper attempt to defeat the will of the people as expressed at the polls. It is an attempt that will be frustrated by the people themselves. The machinations of the disjointed party machine organisation may succeed for the moment, but in the end they Van never triumph against tho people's will. In the meantime, though they have not yet reached tho Treasury benches, Mr. Massey and his party havo v gained their first victory in "the causo of reform, because tho present Government iiiust go out of- office. "But, in regard-to tha pfesent p'osition," said Mr. Massey, "there has never, 1 suppose, been a. parallel, to it in any country in-the .world, The House adjourned and Parliament has been prorogued in full knowledge of the fact that in a few- weeks the present Government will go out and another set of men will step into their shoes. The latter—it is not known even by tho party who will bo their leader or his colleagues—will ad- ' minister the affairs of the country, though neither Parliament nor the peoplo may have any confidence in their policy, their composition, or tlieir efficiency! ' This is surely the acmo of undemocratic Government. Tho strongest party in tho House is undoubtedly tho Reform party. It is a solid body of 38 men. On the other side thero is a heterogeneous and disaffected party of 3-t Ministerialists, with whom aro allied four. Labour members, two Independents, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Wilford, who is absent in England, and who may possibly not approve , of what has been done on the strength of extraordinary promises and broken pledges. "How is it possible," asked Mr. Massey, "for any Government formed from such a party and under such circumstances to sail the troubled political sea? For the moment the Ship of State is rudderless. The crew, in tho shape of tho people, had provided a new rudder, but the ofiicers, in tho shape of the Cabinet, have refused to ship it, and in the meantime' further damage may be done.

"I don't wish to use strong terms about what has already taken place," added Mr. Massey, "but it seems to me there is only one way out, and that is an appeal to the people. I certainly do not wish to rush the country into the turmoil and expense of another election, but the coming session of Parliament may show that there is no other way ont of tho difficulty."