POLITICAL POSITION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2327, 8 December 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL POSITION

. ———*- _ - , REVIEWED BY MR HASSEY REFORM HAS EARNED THff ' PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE. (By TeieeraDft-fresß Association! -Auckland, December 7. A statement reviewing the political character of the parties soliciting the support of tho electors on Thursday, was made this evening by the Prime Minister. He enunciated reasons whtf tuo people should ensure the maintenance in_ office of the Reform Government "which is firm and free to act ,» ■ fV°?, d °- f tho whol ° Dominion and of the Empire." Mr. Massey saidtne peoples choice of a Government has nevor been as important as it is this year, when the whole Empire w engaged m a life and death strugrie with Germany. Matters of domestio pohtios have to take, necessarily » secondary place till the Empire's challenger has been thoroughly conquered.ihe people havo to choose between tho Reform Government and a Ward Government for probably the next throe years.. The Reform Government taa» conducted the country's bueiness with a clear mind and a steady purpose, even eince the war'began. By preparations made in. time of peace by the Reform , Government, New Zealand was able to be the first of the Dominions to send out a , fully-equipped Expeditionary, Force of trained men. The , legislation, made necessary by the outbreak of the war'wns'promptly undertaken,-nnd then the regular sessional work was resumed , . The Government has been able to make satisfactory financial arrangements : for the country's needs, and the Ministry, can fairly claim that its methods have inspired confidence in New Zealand abroad. •

_ Eroin the defence viewpoint, the public cannot possibly expect any advantage from a change of Government. On the contrary there is ft strong reason, for the public to fear a distinct disadvantage from a change. Indisputable proof has been given that the Ward! Party relies on the aid of the Social Democrats, who are admittedly against the Reform Government. Mr. M'Coinbs, the Social-Democrat member for Lyttelton, said at Christchurcb. as far back as last February that the basis of the bargain between the Ward Party andi the Social Democratic Party would be. proportional representation (a quota- of Bed Federationists in Parliament), andi Sir Joseph Ward has offered a vague proportional scheme for the House o? Representatives. In 1912 the.Waihi strike, which began two months before the Reform Government came into powerj revealed the, extreme character of the Red Federation of Labour,

The ','New Zealand Times"'said: "It, may be true the Federation of Labour is working to destroy the defence system, but it does not follow that Mr., Webb willdestroy it." The "Lyttelton Times" stated in an editorial of, July 31, 1913, that "the Liberals supported. Mr. Webb because they knew that ninotenths' of his policy was their own."' Towards the cjiose of the strike, when! Red Federationists and Social Demo-, crats were running Mr. M'Combs for the Lyttelton. seat, the ."Lyttelion. Times," an inveterate supporter' of the Ward Party, stated on December 15 that the platform of Social Democrats was. "plainly based on that of the progressive. Liberals." This is convincing proof that desperate attempts were made to arr range a combine of the Ward Party, and R«d Federationists-' against the Reform Government. Sir JosepluWard himself said in the Wellington Town Hall on December 4, that "lie was con-, vinced that the peoplo were going to put back the Liberals and the progressives 'behind the Liberals." New. Zealanders have to ponder on the fact that the Red Federation and its "political expression," the Social Democratic Party, are uncompromisingly hostileto the present national system of'.de-. fence, which their official organ, "The Mabriland Worker," has denounced in, a frenzy of lurid ■language. . ■ "My colleagues and'l have never' questioned' the t willingness of our Opposition to co-operate.with the Government for the'good of the ■Empire, , ■ but I do.say tnat a party which in-' volves itself with the Social Democratic Party and Red Federation in order to ; capture the Treasury benches cannot ' .hopo to do as good service as, the Reform Party ean> do for New Zealand' and the Empire. Tho Reform Party is completely opposed to the Red Fed-, erationists, and is utterly untrammelled for national and. Imperial work. The Reform Government came in for a ' legacy of financial difficulties from the , previous 'Administration and the Red Federationists. The Wailii strike was then in full force; the smallpox epidemic, -. theitransport etrike, and other difficult, ties for which the Government was riot, ■responsible were crowded into the short, space of iwo years, and finally, came , , the war. No Government in this country . was ever more severely tested but tho' Administration has come through the ordeal with a credit which is acknowledged by uri-. biased people here and abroad. la every department, o£ the .State the. achievement of the Reform marks an improvement on the "record r of its predecessors, and this progress is to be continued. The Reform policy' is on a basis to ensure tho good use of land with corresponding increaee of national wealth for .the, benefit of all classes, in brief, the Reform plan is, common-sense government by the cardinal principles of. public health, publio | wealth; and national.,safety, ensuring, good tunes, good wages, and equal op-" portunities. When voting for any can--didate, whatever may be his pei-eonal." merits,, each elector has a very gravel' responsibility to the whole community, for each , elector-votes for government' • by'either the Reform Party or by the 1 .Ward Party, which is dependent' on the ] support of :extremp Socialists. This is; riot a time for the personal element , , to prevail against New Zealand's need, ; ■ which is a Government firm andfree to, act for the good of- the whole Do--minion and the Empire. The -Reform ■ Government has proved its ability. Ihe \ Reform Party has thoroughly, earnedthe pcoplo'a confidence." ;