WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT.

WHERE THEY STAND

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Aug 11

The new House of Representatives having been in session for seven weeks, it is fairly obvious the parties of which it is composed, whether for good or for ill, are on the verge of the melting pot. The system of election which gave Mr Massey his large majority, also gave liis opponents a considerable measure of independence. Deprived of tlieii leader by the electors of Awarua the Liberals find themselves held together oldv by somewhat loosely defined principles, to which they do not nil subscribe without certain reservations. The position so far as they are concerned, is complicated by the fact that Mr Massey lias conceded many of the reforms for which they were contending at the election of 1914 and to this extent has effectually spiked, some of the heavy guns with which they were assailing the Government’s position. THE MISSING MAN. Another factor in the creation of the present unique position is the lack of a bold constructive mind on the Opposition side of the House. In this inspect, of course, the Government is little better off than the Opposition, but it happens to have possession of the Treasury Benches and the services of a leader ready in debate, skilled- in tactics and capable of adjusting himself to the exigencies ol the party game. He may not hold office by the will of a majority of the electors, but no leader has shown greater ability in conserving a majority in Parliament. The Opposition has no such asset. Mr W. D. S. MacDonald is convinced and honest, but he has not the subtle arts of the politician, and at the moment there is no other possible leader in sight.

THE LABOUR PARTY. In these circumstances the hopes of the Liberal Party must be deferred at least till another appeal to the electors. Its mission for the present will be to exercise a constitutional check on a Government whose greatest strength lies in its big "battalions. Official Labour is in no better case, though it would have a credulous public believe it is the one progressive force in the House and already the sole custodian of all the democratic traditions. That may he the ultimate destiny of a genuine Labour Party, but before the picsent tiny group can reach the goal to which it is aspiring it must purge itself from the affectation and pretence that discount nil its powers for usefulness. Its leader, designated its chairman, is the personification ol all its political views. Mr Holland is intolerant, selfcentred, tactless and on most subjects that really matter, poorly informed. At the moment he serves as one of Mr Massey’s greatest assets. TILE-NEW LIGHT.

Since the opening of the session a new light has appeared on the political horizon. The Independents of all party colours have been 'drawn together and have formed - themselves into the nucleus of a combination which before the prorogation may be the most effective check imposed upon the Government. Independence of the kind that is talked at election time has fallen into some disrepute in recent years, hut independence of the kind that dares to assert itself in the House is becoming increasingly popular. The party is not formed 0 f rnere visionaries who demand the impossible and obtain nothing at all; but 0 f siiine practical men like Dr Newman and other old campaigners -who know wlmt they want and how to go about ■vetting it. It is a protest against the political evils of the time which is hound to awaken a sympathetic echo in the country.