DRIFTING TOGETHER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2181, 20 June 1914, Page 4

DRIFTING TOGETHER.

Th# gentlemen of the "Red feci." pdrstUtsiciH arc htin% gradually brought rounil to ths view that they can test serve their ends, hy assoeiat ing themselves in too fofra. or Aft* 'Other with Wai'diisrii, A short iiims back; they wwo. vigorously proclaiming the-it -determination t* fight the elections as an ittcfependost jjafty, unfettered by alliances. They realised that they, c&ul-d,neve-r hope to kesome a political, power unless they put forward a -definite policy ana progrtonme of their own. hy which they wore prepared to- stand or fall. They kiMW also from past experience that whenever Labour associated itself with other political parties the political tinhorn* movement sustained a set-'fcack, Hfrw, however, there are distinct signs <Jf weakening, t Where there was thfi qry,. aftd.:nothing but the cry, for independent action, there is now a seeH&ji ifeidiiottsly at work, wifih a counter-cry; ""Get rid of Miss-it and his party first," "We \v*ttt Labour's direct representation increased" is still to he heard amongst them, but with if, is crreu.lated the suggestion that by joining hands with thV Waitlists two birds may ha killed with one stone-—more ] "Med .Feds," or Social Democrats : elected, and the Massev CfflveritKienfe. ■thrown out. This is one of the matters to be considered at the forth, coining conference under the aus- : picps i/f the IVdcration of Labour. It, is possible that en; electa thjy Um Rod Fcdev-atioa will join handsi with the Wardis-fcs in ih-fi hope of: hcldiiiß the balance ot powe.f i'u the: new faftiameat, and t-bUs- bcuttg in a |

position to dictate their own terms. While this prospect of Rett Feclera* ti-on dominance might not disturb the majority of the office-seekers in the Wardist group in Parliament, it is quite another matter with the- oin adherents of the Libera! Party outside of Parliament, who arc more coaeiUTtod with the- good government ol the country than with finding portfolios for members who place office before all else. _ The experiences of tho late strike arc quite sufneient, to ensure that a substantial part of the thinking section of the old Liberal electors will prefer to vote for Reform candidates rather than see the Legislature of tho country placed at the merey of a small band of lied Federationists. A Wardist-Rod F«l alliance should still further enhance tho prospects of the Iteform Party at the coming elections.