Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 26th., 1919. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 26th., 1919. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

The near approach of the end of the political compact between the Reform and Liberal parties is evidenced by the recent statements of Reform leaders, and the late caucus of the Liberal Party. The former have made rather candid overtures for a coalition of parties, but the Liberals are not disposed to go that length, and have resolved to return to a separate entity at the first opportunity and go before the electors at the approaching contests with a revived Seddonian policy. With all the political leaders of the past—Fox, Stafford, Vogel, Stout, Atkinson, Grey, Ballance, Seddon, Ward and Massey,— no leader has worn in the public esti. illation, so well as Richard John Seddon—the great Liberal leader who was a giant in his time, and whose memory and deeds arc still to be conjured with. He has become a political ideal for the Dominion, and naturally in this period of doubt and difficulty, the Liberals turn to bis record for inspiration, as regards tho new policy which must be given the country. While all recog-

nise that the world is born anew out of the great war, it is remarkable that to fit a policy to meet the new conditions, the Liberals are going back to the Seddon policy of 1905 which swept the polls, to discover methods to meet the new conditions. This retrospect makes one marvel what would have happened had the late great Premier lived through al these strenuous years, and had his policy continued to fit tho Dominion and its people for itheir political aspirations. Certainly, in going back to such a pattern, the Liberals can do no wrong, for the

great social legislation which was devised under, the Seddon regime proved to be for the well-be-ing of all. If the Liberals of to-day adopt his line of policy, whole-hearted-ly, there is but little room for fusion with the present day Reformers, who as Conservatives in Mr Seddon’s day did so much to help block or hold up the Liberal policy. The policy survived the opposition and has come into its own even under the hand of Reform administration. The Liberals as a party, will go to the polls at a great disadvantage, by reason of their loyal support of the political compact throughout the war, hut they will derive much merit, by possessing a clear cut policy on the great social questions, which aro to. day awaiting settlement. No party in

the Dominion can offer a more honest policy along these lines than tho Liberals, for it was they who initiated social reform, which gave Conservatism its quietus and brought Labour to the forefront by the genuineness of its forward policy. If the Liberals decide upon the revival of such a policy for the immediate future, they magnetic leader to give it force and effect. This is a time for plain speaking among Liberals and they must all realise that capable and useful as he has been to the party, and the country for which ho has done signal service,Sir Joseph Ward hap not those complete qualities of leadership to command the degree of success the Liberals would attain. Sir Joseph had his great opportunity, following the demise of the late Mr Sed-

on and it is history how his party

dwindled away and was finally relieved of office without accomplishing the great social advancement the big Chief had outlined. The difficulty of the Liberals then, will be not in moulding a forward policy worthy of the times, but in selecting a leader to give the policy verisimilitude.