PARTY OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 7

PARTY OUTLOOK

WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS. SAY COMPROMISE URGED STRONG FEELING AGAINST DISSOLUTION ... '■ ~' ■ v From one end of New Zealand to ' o other a strong desire is expressed .' the newspapers that New Zealand iould.be spared the turmoil of a secjnd general election during the war. Tlia public can judge of the general trend of feeling by the fcllowing 'selection of excerpts from the leading articles of over a dozen journals of all shades of opinion. The extracts, however, speak for themselves:— Auckland Opposition View. If there is to be a political truce it cannot be altogether one-sided, and Mr. Massey's bitter attack, published this, morning, is not calculated to pave the way for any understanding. The only course, if there is to be a compromise, is to get right away from the election fight and face •the position with a frank acceptance and respect for the standing of tho opposing political forces. It is essential- that the Leader of the Opposition should be taken into the complete confidence of the Government in all but their domestie legislation. On this basis a real political truce could be founded and a trial of strength not unnecessarily precipitated. The election has been strenuously contested throughout the Dominion, but it says little for the standing of the politician of this country if he cannot forget the pinpricks of the heat of the fray and accept victory or defeat with the spirit of cheerfulness that we claim to be characteristic of the British people.—Auckland "Star," written before . the final result was known. ■ Chrlstchurch Opinion. It is impossible to imagine a more unsatisfactory condition of affairs in such a crisis as the present.' It is very undesirable that the country should be

against plunged into the throes of a general election, and the probability as that the Governor would not grant a dissolution uUil every means had been exhausted of providing him with responsible advisers from the present House. It is, <f course, possible that, in view' of the new. development, Mj. Massey. may now prefer to call .Parliament together early in the.New Year with a view of finding, without unnecessary delay, a solution to what threatens to to a deadlock, although, as we have said, he is not constitu-. tionally bound to do 'so. ■ That, some means will "ultimately be found to get out of. the difficulty ,we have very little doubt— Christchurch "Press." It is very many years since a General Election so .'closely divided the party strength in .this country, 'and ua'der normal conditions—that is to say, if Britain.were not, engaged in a great war—the most natural thing to anticipate would be an early dissolution. In the' meantime, as the war makes domestic amity desirable, the publio will no doubt be-glad to have Mr. Massey's statement that he does not propose to call the new Parliament together until tho usual time. It is solely because_ of the war that we welcome this decision —solely because the political situation is pregnant with possibilities of changes, and more changes, at a.-,time,when, they are unsuitable..)/)" the ••Dominion'aVjduty

to the .'Mother Country and'the Empire.— "Lyttolton Times" of Wednesday last. . , v Patriotism v. Politics. The conclusion is irresistible that it is impossible in existing'circumstances for either the Reform Party or for the Opposition to carry on the business of the country, aa an- Executive, with dignity',to itself or with satisfaction to publio! Wo are forced back, therefore,, to the view which we suggested tho other day that until, at all events, the termination.of the war it is desirable that representation should be given in tho GoVernment to that section of .the Opposition which is more largely.in sympathy with the Reform Party than with the extremists who are opposed to the Reform Party, and that legislation should be confined to measures that may be described'as non-party in character.' This would, in the meantime, be a temporary expedient dictated by patriotic rather than by purely political considerations. But its adoption would hasten the day when the party Knes in New Zealand would bo drawn as, in Australia, botween tho members who are Moderates.or Liberals, whatever they may be called, and the members whose views have a distinct flavour of Socialism. The lines of political demarcation in this Dominion must sooner or later correspond more or less closely with those that have been drawn in the Commonwealth, and it would not be ail unfortunate circumstance .if they wore so drawn sooner

rather than. later.—"Otago Daily •Times." ■.-'■" ' "An Effective Solution." With the parties so evenly divided, government on the orthodox lines is almost an-impossibility, and the only escape from the 'impasse seems another nppeal to the electors, who, however, are not anxious to take part in a second eleotion fight, with its attendant .unsettlement and dislocation. ' A coalition Government, to hold -office until ithe end of the war, would be an effective solution of the difficulty, but tho party spirit obsessing so many of our political satellites would be a bar to its consummation, however, desirable and profitable it would prove to the country.—"Taranaki Daily News." A Truce Approved. At the present time the defeat of the Massey Government would be followed by more than one change, and probably by an early dissolution . and another acrimonious general election—another bitter party contest'such as we have ]U6t gone • through unnecessarily,' and in which we were reluctantly compelled to participate. The fact that tho Massey Party chose to make the war a dominant issue'in' the election last week is enough jn itself to prove that the elections should not have been held just then. VVo sincerely hope that such another fight will be obviated while there is much more 6erious fighting in Europo to think about and to aid towards a successful termination. • Purely on that consideratioi we base this suggestion for a truce. In doing so, however, wo would like to urge upon all parties that before the next election, be it soon or l it not for many months, Parliament should pass a measure of electoral reform, by the system of proportional representation or even the simple transferable vote, that will ensure a true House of Representatives.—"Waii"anui Herald." ° An Elective Executive. What we do think desirable at this juncture is that the Elective Exccutivo should be given a trial. The parties are so evenly divided that we should have an opportunity of gaining for the Cabinet the best- brains of the country. . Tho policies of- the Right Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are not dissimilar, excepting in the matter of the Navy. And this con bo left for decision until the war is ended. Why, in this time of crisis, should the country not have the beiiefit' of the services of tho most able men in Parliament? Why should the Legislature itself not select its Executive? We have implicit confidence in the Massey Government. But we cannot overlook the fact that a largo section of the community would

prefer to eeo Sir Joseph Ward in power. We suggest that, at this momentous period in the history of tho Dominion, it is desirablo that party differences should be sunk, and that Parliament should be given tho opportunity of saying who shall control the different Departments of State. There may bo difficulties in the way, but we are persuaded that these could be'overcome.— "Manawntu Daily Times," A Tlmaru View, If the equal division of parties is maintained after further recounts the now election might be,avoided by agreement on a coalition "Ministry, with avoidance of contentious questions till the war is over, or by the initiative of some members of independent mind. It is natural to reoall in this connection a statement made last week by Mr. Myers. "Recognising," he said, "that the maintenance of law and order, is tho first essential of government and progress, I am satisfied that Sir Joseph Ward would not accept the responsibility of forming a Government unless he was assured of absolute support to give him the necessary majority to carry on a progressive and prudent polioy." Sir Joseph Ward has no hope of that assurance. Mr. Myers was a candidate of Sir Joseph Ward at the last elections, but he has always been more of an_ Independent than a party man, and it is a natural presumption that his support might be given to Mr. Massey for the purpose oi ending a deadlock or avoiding an election, the more easily Bince the dividing lines of policy between the two parties are almost as vague as they could be.—Timaru "Herald." , More Party Wrangling a Grime. So far as we are concerned we would prefer to see a strong coalition Ministry formed. When the Empire is at war there is no time for party wrangling which must inevitably occur when two parties' are so evenly ' balanced. It would be better then to agree to a coalition to last until the end 'of the war. Putting all mere party considerations aside, we are certain that a splendid. Cabinet could be selected that would not only be a credit to<New Zealand, but a source of strength to the Empire. But some party liack will come forward with the objection, but who is going in be Leader, Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey. This is a very small matter. All know that both men, however they may differ on merely parochial questions, are staunch Imperialists, and one equally _ with tho other would be only too willing to sink his own' private inclinations. ' The trouble, we consider, would not be to get Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey to stand down, but to get either to accept it in preference to the other. This is the spirit that should animate all true British statesmen at the present time. And what, a 'gain there would be to the country . , . Party Government may have its advantages in times of peace—oven then' we are doubtful whether the advantages claimed are not exceeded by the defwts—but in time of war party wrangling is not merely wrong, it is a crime against Imperial solidity, which is an essential for victory in the present svar.—"Grey River Argua."

"An Acceptable Ministry." What would be an acceptable Ministry to New Zealand in the event of a coalition being brought about? • "We think. that nobody would deny the pride of position to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, who is still the leader of the strongest party in the IJouse. It may be found possible, however, for Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to become joint leaders of the Government, in the same way that Sir Robert Stout and Sir Vogel co-operated about thirty years ago. Then we might with advantage add Mr. A. M. Myers as Minister of Railways, the Hon. James Allen •■as' : %lihister'-"'of Finance and Education, Dr. M'Nab as Minister of Defence, the Hon. A. L. Herdman as Attorney-General and PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. W. Fra-ser as Minister of Lands, Mr. W. D. S. Macdonald as Minister of Publio Works, the Hon. W. H. Herries as Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. H. D. Bell as Minister of Internal Affairs, and possibly Mr. W., A. Veitch a3 Minister of Labour. . A Cabinet constructed .on these lines would, we, think, give very general satisfaction. It would be about the strongest available in ,the House. —"Wairarapa Age."

The Only Way Out. The only way out appears to be ■ a compromise and something in the nature of a coalition, or another general eleotion. The latter course is very,undesirable for many reasons, but in tho temper of the parties it is,the one most likely to be adopted. This politicil crisis is more disturbing and troublesome to the country than the war. It is most unfortunate because of the war and its consequences, which require' all the attention of the GovernHolding the general eleotion at this time was a mistake; to hold another election on its heels would be in the nature of a disaster; but unless some way of a compromise -is found, that contingency faces tin people with the party figures tas they stund.— "Wairarapa Daily News."

"Foolish and Costly Party Came."

Of course another appeal may • be made to the country, but there is no certainty as to what the result would be and in the present temper' of the country wo might simply continue this foolish and costly party game. One thing is abundantly clear, and that is that though the Government' is in a tight corner, Sir Joseph Ward would have no chance whatever of carrying on, even with the ragged tail of SocialDemocrats to make up his team. With these gentlemen as his frail support, confusion would be worse confounded. The.whole muddle is another boautiful example of what our wretched party system may lead to.—Stratford "Post." Patriotic Spirit Needed. The most common-sense solution of the problem would be a coalition Government unfil the war is ended. There is a precedent for this in France, where tho even state of the parties resulted in such a combination, evidently with tho very best of effects. There'might be a "difficulty here in connection with tho claims to ,the Premiership, but with a spirit of sweet' reasonableness this might surely be overcome. The position is one in which a patriotic spirit should dominate tho actions of both parties, and even in making concessions a party must eventually strengthen its~~ position. '■ It is sincerely to be hoped' that the question will be settled from a patriotic and not a party standpoint.— Eketahuna "ExDress.'"

Such glorious scenery as the Wanganui River offers is to bo found in only a few favoured spots in this world of ours. To glide up or> down this beautiful river on one of the comfortable riverboats is to know the fullest restfulness and recreation of a' real holiday. See the Wanganui this summer—spend a day or two at Pipiriki' House or the Houseboat. Particulars of the Wanganui River Service from A. Hatrick and Co., Wanganui; Cook's and Government Tourist Bureaux—Advt.

At the annual meeting of the Pctone Ex-Navals' Association, held last evening at Petone (Mr. L. Parrant presiding), the following officers were elected:— Patron, Major Hollis; president, Mr. J. Wood; vice-presidents, Major Bevan and Messrs. W J. Hardham, V.C., W. Clouston. J List, and E. Mothes; secretary, Mr. 1,. Parrant;committee, Messrs. F. Ryan. G. Fiaser. B. Applevard, C. Martin, J. May, C. Villers, W. Sherron, A.-Skinner, and A. Bennett; auditor, Mr. K. Cruickshank. The Waterside Wcrkers' Band will render items at Newtcwn Park to-inorroT afternoon, at 3. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. havo 502 acres of Levitt-,land for sab. ' '*"•'-