AS OTHERS SEE US

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 94, 15 January 1920, Page 5

AS OTHERS SEE US

AUSTRALIAN.COMMENT ON THE ELECTIONS. In its editorial comment on tho result of tho New Zealand elections, tho "Australasian" says:— Mr. Mnssey's sweeping victory in New Zealand is a victory for political honesty, and does something to sustain one's "nith in democracy. Sir Joseph Ward, leader of tho Radical party, thought the time opportune for appealing to tho lower instincts of the people, and broke away from tho coalition which, under Mr. Massey and himself, had carried • the country creditably through tho war. Mr. Massey and his section were willing to continue the arrangement during tho period of reconstruction; but Sir Joseph preferred to try his luck with a policy of heavy borrowing and riotous expenditure. • • ■ In Mr. Massey New Zealand lias _ a really eminent man for its Prime- Minister. He led his party for many years in Opposition before tho chanco of showing lus capacity for rule came. Tho Ballniicc-Seddon-Ward party seemed unassailable in the country, and (he other side had no man of Ministerial cxperienci> left when at length its turn enmo. Mr. Massev seemed a man of the gentleman farmer type-plain, straightforward, brusque, and as vo.d of political graces and plausibility as he was of political humbug and cant. In the fence of Parliament and the hustings he was never a match for Sir Joseph Ward. Ho is not a solid block of personality of tho Seddon type cither; but he is goodnatured, he says what lie means, Mid he sticks to what he says., Though he stands principally for the solid interests of the community, there is, now at all events, singularly little of the provincial and sectional about him. Mr. Reddon was an aggressive Imperialist, and lectured the British people on its responsibilities. Sir Joseph Ward liked to bo regarded as an intellectual Imperialist, and brought before an Imperial Conference a preposterous paper schemo for tho Empire on scientific .Parliamentary' lines. Mr. Massey, we beliove, is tho most enlightened and genuine Imperialist of the three. Un•.der him New Zealand fought tho war through without ever flinching for a moment. There was no auestion that the last man and tho last shilling would, have been forthcoming... In the peace negotiations ho did not appear so prominently before the world as the Primo Minister of Australia. He has not the et.ergy, audacity, or eloquence, or tho picturesque personality of Mr. Hughes; but he has some qualities which in the ordinary business of government more than • compensate for his lack of them. Mr. Hughes is reckless, impulsive, volatile; he is'responsible, cautious, steady. It is said that no Dominion representative more profoundly impressed tho statesmen.of London and Paris. While Sir Joseph Ward is much the same now as he was twenty years ago, Mr. Massey has developed immensely under experience. We do not think any part of the Empire is now better placed for facing the burdens and anxieties which five years of war have imposed on the world.