The Dominion. MONDAY. JULY 8, 1912. THE VICTORY FOR REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1486, 8 July 1912, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY. JULY 8, 1912. THE VICTORY FOR REFORM.

The country is to be congratulated nofc only on the victory of the Reform party in the House of Representatives on Saturday inorning, but also on the fact that Mb. Massey defeated the Government by a margin large enough to ensure a stable working majority. The danger in the political situation, as we havr repeatedly pointed out, was the fact that the two dominant parties being nearly equal in strength placed the balance of power in the hands of a small body of extremists, who might thus control the position and make or break Governments and dictate the policy of the country at their own sweet will. .This quite intolerable prospect, has now been avoided, and in the only possible way. A section of the moderate members unconnected with the Reform party decided to throw in their lot with Me. Massey in order to ensure a period of stable Government and to prevent the possibility of the control of the country's affairs falling under 'be influence of the extreme Radiol leasehold section of tho House. Most people in and about Parliament fully expected the Mackenzie Ministry to bo beaten when the crucial division camo Co- bo taken, but the largo majority secured by tho Reform party not only carried demoralisation into the Government camp, but completely changed tho whole pplitical outlook. There is hardly a member of tho House today who does not recognise that the new Government which is to be formed this week by Mr; Massey has every prospect of carrying on successfully until the close of the present Parliament, and if it comes up to expectations- in the matter of the sonnet and progressive policy it promises, is assured an almost certain tenure of office for some years after.

We do not propose in this article to closely review the circumstances leading up to the present situation. They havo been touched on so often of late that it is unnecosjary to do bo. But tho importance o| tjie c}wngQ

that must follow as the result of th< vote in the House of Representative! i on Saturday morning must impresi itself forcibly on the minds of al who have given any serious though* to tho position of the country's af fairs. Under tho Continuous Minis try, which has held office for ovei ir twenty years, a condition of thing! has grown up detrimental to al: classes of the community, save onlj that small class or section of the people which inevitably profits by a ' spoils" policy—the touts anc nangers-on of the ,Ministry. How ever admirable tho aims of a Gov ernment may bo on accession to office, a too prolonged occupancy oi tho Treasury benches by any partj inevitably creates amongst its lead ers a false conception of their pow ers and responsibilities. The Libera' party began well, and no one is pre pared to dispute that it has much ir its past—especially its earlier yean —to which it can point with pride but is long tenure of office has de moralised it, and in recent year: particularly it has proved a degenerate party, secretive and selfish, entirely lacking in fixed principles and trusting to a lavish and waste lui expenditure of public rnonej rather than to any merits in it: ■ policy or administration to win ii support. It has created a feeling oj unrest and uncertainty throughout the country, injurious to all classei —no one for some years past has evei been certain what fresh legislativi surprise would be sprung on then when Parliament next met, or wha' fresh administrative extravagant would be embarked on. To many habituated by long experience, thii . sort of Government has almost comi to be regarded as inseparable fron our politics, and the dignity anc status of Parliament have in conse quence been lowered in the eyes o the public. With the change of Government which is in immediate prospect then must follow a complete abandon ment of the methods which havi grown out of this too long occupancy of the Treasury benches. The Re form party, like ourselves, has foi years been fighting strenuously against the abuses in the adminis Nation, and have declaimed agains ™°. shuffling and cowardice of thi Liberal Government iu recen times on matters of policy. The nev Government which will take offici this week under Mr. Massey wil be called on to live up to these pro ressions, and we believe it will I has been branded as Tory and taunt ed as being tho friend of tin wealthy. It will have to show b its policy and by its actions tha those who thus slandered it lied ti servo their own ends. It has beei charged with tho intention to repea laws now on the Statute Book whicl .benefit the poorer classes, and wit] a desire to prevent the subdivisioi of large estates. It must provi these allegations to bo as false a tho rest of these slanders, whicJ have been repeated in parrot fashioi by the opponents of the party fo years past. But more than this, th Reform party has now tho great op portunity of proving tho sincerit otits claim to progressiveness b ; bringing into practical effect it policy proposals for the bettermen of the working'classes in tho way o insurance against sickness and un employment j for improved condi turns in the Civil Service; for a liv and activo .land settlement policy including close settlement and se cunty of tenure; for the reform o ™? Legislative Council, which th Liberal Government' has neve dared to attempt; for a better dec toral system; for- the lessening o the cost of living by means of fur ther tariff remissions, and all th> rest of. the nmny progressive pro posals it has advocated. These thing cannot all bo done at once, but Me Massey and his new Ministry cai quickly prove their bona fides, am no doubt will dp so by making a be ginning which will carry ample con viction of their earnestness and de termination to stand or fall by thei policy and principles. Mr. Massey, indeed, has a grea opportunity. He haß around hir tho material out of which to fore the strongest Cabinet that has beei seen in this country since the day ?l B [ ALI < ANCB and the early days o the Seddon rigime. He has com into office at a time when the coun try is keenly anxious for a respit from, wild-cat legislative experi merits; when sound administrate and moderation in all things are th need of the hour. There are heav difficulties ahead—the financial posi tion will require very careful atten tion, and threatening industria troubles may bring hardships am distress in their train, and militat against that full degree of prospei ity which tho country should enjoy But that the Massey Governmen will face these difficulties courage ously and ably, as it faced and over came the obstacles which confront* it when in Opposition, we have ever confidence. Mr. Massey has wel earned the victory which has place, him at the head of the country' affairs,.and with the loyal assisfcanc of his party should be able to dc monstrate that the confidence repos 3d in him has not been misplaced.