THE TASK AHEAD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1603, 21 November 1912, Page 4

THE TASK AHEAD.

. The magnificent reception accorded the Prime Minister at Auckland on Tuesday ovening no doubt fittingly demonstrated the popularity of Mr, MASSEY'ih that part ofvtho Dominion where he is best known personally. The' head of the Reform party' has every reason to be proud of the enthusiastic manner in which the huge gathering in the Town Hall expressed its appreciation of his personal worth and of his public service. Naturally the speeches on such an occasion dealt largely.with the triumph of the Reform party; but it is'pleasing; to observo that while the congratulations were freely exchanged both Mr. Massey and ■his colleagues did not neglect to make it quite clear that they fully realised the heavy responsibility they have taken up, nor did they_ fail to make known their determination to fulfil their obligations at all costs. In practically all the speeches there was a note of , sober earnestness. It almost seemed that Ministers had hardly time now to dwell on their victory; their, thoughts wero too.fully .occupied with the tasks ahead. -The Prime Minister himself apparently was in that buoyant fighting mood which charapterised him during his long years 6f, political adversity, and which the cares of offices have left unimpaired. "They had lots of difficulties to encounter,"'he admitted, but he proceeded to make it clear that those difficulties were riot to be allowed to bar the road of progress. The Government; ■ lie said, were going to do their level best for the welfare and good of the Dominion. ;He ventured to predict that before the end of the present Parliament all pledges given before and after coming into office would be placed on tho Statute Book of the country." While it must be conceded that during the short period in which it has held office the lieform Government has succeeded in instituting what in the circumstances must be regarded as a quite astoriishing number of legislative reforms, we aro'inclined to the opini6n that the Prime "Minister is somewhat optimistic in his anticipation . of what hiay be accomplished during the remaining '.two'sessions l of the'pre-sent-Parliament.' iThe pledges of the Reform party- involve some very important changes, and if the Government can give effect to the whole of these within three years it will ac-complish-a'great deal more than the most sanguine of its supporters ever anticipated. Still, Mr. Massey and his colleagues are approaching the task before them in the right spirit. They are not blinding themselves to the difficulties ahead, but are. steadily and confidently setting out to overcome them and fulfil their pledges. The outlook for the party is indeed very bright and Ministers have' good reason for their optimism.