The Political Outlook.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1922, Page 4

The Political Outlook.

THE GOVERNMENT'S Pl.felT

(Lyttelton Times)

At any general election in recent years a united Opposition would nave turned out the present Government of •heavy spenders aiid taxers, of railway mismanagement, of bungling in all directions, to culminate- quite probably in the ruin of tlie frozen meat industry. Hence the special interest that is exhibited in Reform circles in the comings and goings of Mr Wilford, Mr Veitcli, Mr Statham and others. , For the benefit of all concerned, we may , contribute a few facts. There are in Mr Massey’s party no fewer than eighteen members who failed to crotain election by a majority of the voters at the polls. Twenty thousand more people voted against than ini .favour of this Reform, phalanx, this backbone of the party that rules New Zealand and rules it with War Regulations, censorships, restrictions, OrdersJn-Council a»d com- | pulsion. A united Opposition would win these seats. Probably it would win a considerable number more judging by « tlie unfavourable opinions of the Government which are heard among all classes,. including many people who used to favour Reform before they were disillusioned. We do not know what stronger encouragement the Opposi--1 ionists need than an examination of polling figures plus a sense of the attitude of the public towards the Government of the day. Beform has been tried and found wanting. It has jettisoned its pledges io reduce borrowing and taxation, to curtail tlie cost of government, to reborn the Legislative Council, to make the railways pay. It lias injured the people and the country with incompetence and extravagance, and only tlio industry of the community has p-ov.r,:-- .(! the effects of had government from being worse than they are. But the Masseyites have profited thiough the luck of three-cornered election contests, and jyliile Oppositionists choose to play Mr Massey’s game by fighting eacli other instead of fighting him, they will he delaying the day when New Zealand can be rid of the incubus of iiis administration. We believe that not even disunion in the Opposition ranks could save Mr Massey from ultimate dismissal, dissatisfaction with his Government beingso general; hut if the Oppositionists do ■ -b- duty to the Dominion now they will unite and turn the Reformers out of office at tlie elections this year—unless that party follows the advice of its principal newspaper and postpones the elections, an act of cowardice whose advocacy has not shocked any of the Reformers, so far as we are aware.