The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1922. POLITICAL UNITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1922. POLITICAL UNITY.

It seems almost too good, to be ttfu* that there is at least a possibility ; of tha Opposition, factions in the Hou&e* uniting for the purpose of more effeo- ' tively challenging the Eeform party to I the right to the Treasury Benches. It { will be noted we refer to a “possibility” not a “probability,” for there have been reports along the same line before and they came to nought. However, it is rumoured in the lobbies of the House that three sections of the Opposition—the Liberals who recognise the leadership of Mr T. M. Wilford, the Statham party, consisting of Mr G. K. Shatham and Mr E. Kellett, and the Moderate Labour party, consisting of Mr W A. Veitch and Mr S. G. Smith—have agreed to a basis of common programme for the next general election. The rumour, however, only gained currency after the House House had adjourned; and though a newspaper representative immediately instituted inquiries, lie was unable to obtain any official confiramtion of the j rumour. “Nobody will say anything about it,” he was told. “If there is anything in it, it will come out late r ” ; and with this somewhat cryptic utterance, he had perforce to be satisfied. The Parliamentary Labour Party which follows the lead of Mr H. E. Hollandj was not mentioned as one of'

the probable coalescing sections. So far bo good for the possibilities suggest that the oppositionists are at last realising that unity is necessary to fight if there is to be any hope of ulti relate or even useful success in endeavouring to control if not to shape Government policy. Unquestionably the greatest asset the Reform party has is the extreme Labor Party under the leadership of Mr H. E. Holland. The tenets of that party arc not popular with the masses, and as a consequence much support is driven to Mr Massey who is regarded as “safe” in so far as stable government is concerned. There is further the vote splitting which results from triangular contests where three parties set up. This has b e en of special benefit to the Government, who have many minority supporters behind them. As to the unity question. however, this action is long overdue. The Liberal and Moderate Labour elements have had much in common since the Ballance Ministry went into power. That was ostensibly a Liberal Government, but from its ranks grew the first practical steps in -labor legislation. There was a Minister of Labour —a very able one, too, in the person of Sir W. P. Reeves—and a definite forward move then began. Later the word “Labdr” was •embodied in the political titloi of the dominant party, an evidence of the sincerity of the then Seddon government to promote the veil being of the industrialists. The negotiations just .now are said to be hampered by the selection of a name for the fresh fusion of parties, but it seems the soundest course is to go back to the old title which served so well in the past. Alsa there may be expected to be some difficulties about the choice of a leader. This should not be insurmountable. There could be dual leadership, as we had before in the political reign of the Stout-Vogel Ministry. Even to-day there are those who assert we have the dual leadership in the Massey-Bell Ministry—or should it he the Bell-Massey Ministry? Thus while all things are possible, and as there is some ane talk about unity, it is to be hoped the idea will soon become a practicable probability for such an ovent is of the greatest need at the present time when politics are so much in the melting pot als a result of the financial muddle for which the Reform party is to blame.