A POLITICAL REVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1965, 23 January 1914, Page 6

A POLITICAL REVIEW.

,The events and developments, pf the late.session .of Parliament were interestingly reviewed by Mr. Edward Newjian, M.P., when he addressed his constituents at Huntcrvillc on; Tuesday evening. In-addi-tion to that, he made an effective rejoinder to the empty talk and pointless criticism in which tho defeated and disorganised opponents of the Reform Government have been intermittently indulging for some time past. Mr. Newman kept studiously to hard facts, and showed convincingly that Mn. Massey and his supporters have already done a great deal of useful legislative work, besides placing the administration of the country upon a thoroughly sound and efficient footing. His references to the collapse of the so-called "Liberal" party were all the more effective on account of the temperate language in which they were expressed. Probably most people will endorse his conclusion that the mixed following of Sir Joseph Ward has ceased to be a factor of any importance in the politics of the Dominion, and that the Eeform party is , the true Liberal party. The tribute that the member for Rangitikei paid to his loader is well merited, and tho people at large will echo Mr. Newman's wish that Mr. MasSEY may be lqiig spared to serve his country. It is a matter for regret that much of what goes on in tho Bouse of Representatives is only dimly realised or understood outside its walls, and on that account Mr. Nkwman's clear exposure a.ncl emphatic denunciation of the senseless obstruction in which the Opposition so freely indulged during the late session of Parliament was all the more welcome. With few.exceptions the members of the "Liberal" party applied themselves all through the session to a venomous attack upon the Government because it was the Government, and their futile, attempts to manufacture party capital on every possible and impossible occasion were not relaxed even during the period of the big strike, when a true regard for the interests of the country would have induced them to co-operate with the Government in its efforts to bring about a restoration of normal conditions. Mr, Newman was again on sure ground , when he spoke of the benefits of nonpplitical control of the Public Service, Some "Libera]s" still persist in general denunciations of this undoubted reform, but the facts are all against them. i Political influence and favouritism have been abolished, and the principle of advancement by merit has been firmly established. In dealing with the financial posi* tion, Mr. Newman showed that tho Reform Government had discharged a number of obligations whieh tho Continuous Ministry had neglected and handed down as a. legacy to its successors. The anti-Roformcrs malic: a great show of indignation at tho failure of tho Government to cut down expenditure, but they had to admit in tho House last session that they approved such items as increases in salaries to railwaytnen, increased pension benefits, and large payments to the State superannuation funds, which have gone to swell the public expenditure since the Tieform Government took office. The anti-Reformers are, in fact, denouncing the Government for meeting obligations which should have been met by the Continuous Ministry before it was driven out of office. As a whole, Mi!. Newman made out an effective case for the party to which he belongs and the Government he support. l !. Much tA the Reform policy, has already taken practical shape, and many improvements have been effected. Good work on similar lines will bo continued in gpito of all that the anti-Reformers can do ia the way oi carping crfti- 5

obstruction. The. public is'rapidly coming to understand that the anti-Reform stock-in-trade is a mere collection of political debris, and Mr. . Newman performed a useful service in assisting to make the understanding complete.