THE WOW TO REFORM

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2166, 3 June 1914, Page 6

THE WOW TO REFORM

IsPOftTS from many parts of the Dominion are mating; it every day that the political Vevulsiuti which came definitely to a head in iBl-2 t.lip waf in which iiw Wardisls Ws.'l'f cjoi-d'd fvinti uflic-i 1 - Iliis hv nn inofliiis t'Kpi'iuli'i] its force-, but; on tiw; cinitriify is siili nperatint; as perltaps Uw most-(lnfinite fnetor Jβ eoutesniTOvaTy polities. _ A latft escmnlifetion of tho fstct is supplied in we Mtsftt Hefovuci C'culereucc

at Slotueka, at which a considerable licrcontagu of tin; 'delegate wcr« une-tiroo supporters of ite'Wardisfc f arty, who now recognise that people desirous of Bering stable and efficient govci'umattt inaintainud must sink minor diffei-Mces, and rally to the standard of liefovm. Similar inBtnna's of allegiance transferred on go«l and sufficient grounds may be multiplied f>y anyone who is familiar with the details of the existing political situation, ami unbiased observers of the position will agree that the changes which are visible in the organisation and strength of the parties merely reflect the trend of opin* jkm in the country. In most parts [of 2JTgw_Zealand there arc very plain I indications' that a majority of the \ people will refuse to support .any . such heterogeneous party of dubious aims as Sir Joseph Wai:o now kads. 1 .Ordinary political' issues such as used to_ furnish matters of political contention arc being stutk-in a clearsighted recognition of the fact that An issue of vastly greater importance will be laid before the electors at the end of the year. Tho essential fjtiestlon on that oeeasioa will be whether a strong and capable Government of progrossiv-a views 'shall be retained in oftee, of Sift Josepji vvaed restored to power wn-tlor conditions which would' mko him little BiOiT; than a pufifiet in ihc hands of the extrtmtsts, bent «m destrovbg , our existing social system. Tlic' people who are transferring thsir alfegianee to the IMvrtn Party are not recreant Liberals, for the simple reason that tho literal Party as it formerly existed is no longes? in tho field. It would ha a distortion of fact to- confer any sttcll title upon tho broken rcrnnajifc which follows Sjb Joseph Ward, and aioart frqm j ■ its own demerits, this faction is up- J desivably identified with the rabid i extrelnjste who are sectiajg to comrat the eountry tg tiwir rash ami iwolutioiwy fflettods and ideas. It is adraitti.(] even by the advofia-tes of his eanse that Sib 'Josctk Wabjb's only, hope of snecess involves wore or less eloso co-opor<ition with these uactesirable efoments in the nolltiss ot the Dominion. Naturally, in these <!ircim3st*a6ns matty eld mpnortors of the Liberal 'forty, whet havo been disappointed with Sm Joskpm Warb's part ajitl rocaat fα-ilwres as a leader, and who see the hopelessness of expecting my tbtn« liat-te- frea a party dostiinated bV tJjO WItTYS, the ATSieilBS, ti-iO Wiwflfli&s, the ISiW. aiJcl ctlters of equally dwarfed political stature, nave found theftisslvcs clriv«n to look OisewJjcifo for a party in which thay flan place their' confidence, and whidi Jiolds oivfe aa assurance of soivn-cl and sta-ul-e government,