THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2341, 24 December 1914, Page 7

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Sir, —After reading over your article under Hie above heading in your issue of ' December 22, and taking into consideration the tangled and unique i political position into which we have drifted, one Cannot but be struck- with the nature of the incongruous elements that have arrayed themselves together for the avowed purpose of ousting the presont Ministry. Such has been the degradation of our politics during the last decade that those who would bring about reform aro confronted with a herculean land unenviable task. We are all agreed as to the impossibility of the LabourSocialist proposals; we also know that Labour in this country at present _is a heterogeneous conglomeration of inharmonious factions. Then tho oncepowerful Liberal Party has become utterly disintegrated and effete, and Sir Joseph Ward has proved himself a signal and absolute failure as a leader, and it is this conglomeration of irreconcilable units that is seeking the confidence of the people, and proposing to manage their affairs in these troublous times. It is true they have been very busy of late making specious promises and beguiling simple folks, and have not hesitated to heap no end of condemnation on the Reform Party, and appear to be numerically stronger than the Government. But the absurdity of putting these in office under the guise of a Liberal Government is a'most too apparent to require mentioning. On tho other hand, while being fully alive to the imperfections and disabilities of tho Reform Party, they are at least a harmonious and united party, and have proved themselves quite capable of running this country's affairs under difficult circumstances. If positions that require more than ordinary ability and concern for the welfare of tho publio are to be ruthlessly exploited by combines organised for party and personal ends, we may expect nothing but confusion, hardship, and disaster as the result. If nothing olso than a fusion Government can bo evolved out of the present deadlock, it is in the nature of things certain that the present Ministry will hold tho commanding position that its solidarity will enforce. In any caso we can only speculate on the possibilities of the position until tho complete electoral returns are to hand,r-I am, oto., JURIST.