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Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1918, Page 2

The political air is still much perturbed in Australia as a result of the failure of the Referendum proposals of the National Government. Tlie present week should see some solution. Writing of the real issue at stake, and the chief cause alleged to have created it, the “Sydney Morning Herald” thus refers to the position of Mr W. liugelis, the Commonwealth Prime Minister : • The Referendum had this muclv in common with a general election, that the Prime Minister pledged himself to resign if his proposals wore not accepted. His resignation will clear the way for one it not both of the tasks which any Australian Government must undertake—the union of all men of goodwill lor the service of the community and the utilisation of all our resources in men and material for -the benefit of our troops and of the Allies. Mr Hughes’s services to Australia during the war have been very great and his patriotism is beyond, question. But in tho conduct of two referendums and of the general election he hais shown tho peril to a leader in a false view of his own supremacy. TTe has driven patriotic if short-sighted men into alliance with the enemy. His temperament lias discouiaged his own followers, and has given undue prominence to an opponent whoso political instinct' is not governed by the generosity of his race. His whole conduct of the campaign shows a want of appreciation of the instincts of his countrymen, of which the most marked are resentment at the appearance of dictation or coercion and the desire to see fairplay between any two parties, what- ' ever the merits of their quarrel. ]„ this campaign charges have been uttered and threats used which make it impossible to regard Mr Hughes as a Minister of reconciliation. Reconciliation, however is a duty which must ho the foundation of the policy of his successor. The many thousand opponents of eouseriptiofn who arc loyal to their country anj the Empire must not be driven to find their leader among the nation’s enemies. It is to he hoped that some leader will he found who will command a majority in the present Parliament. Every effort must he made to save the country from an immediate general election.