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Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1922, Page 2

Tuk business being done by Parliament this session is neither very exciting or important. Matters are progressing very tamely so far, but with tho opening of the debate on the Financial Statement to-night they should liven up. There are signs that the Liberal Opposition will do something very soon to assert themselves more and come into the limelight. Last week Messrs Forbes and Veiteli spoke at Eltliam, and it was announced lntely that Mr Wilford was to speak at no distant date at Dunedin. No doubt the Leader of the Opposition will to-niglit confine his speech mainly to criticism of the Government line of administration. A good deal of caustic comment along those lines in appearing in print of late, not only from the press generally hut also from commercial and financial quarters, where the drift of the country ; s viewed rather seriously. To be really effective now Mr Wifford will require to come forward with an indication of the lines of the Liberal policy and keen its plank's well Tn the limelight. At the last general election the opposition did not show even primary elements of organisation, hut on this occasion it would appear the omission is to he rectified. The graveness of the Government offence in administration is the drift in public expenditure which has been allowed to set in, and the delay not to say weakness in coping with a serious situation when the difficulties becamo palpable. The extraordinary expenditure has gone on, and the extraordinary taxation has rcc

mained at the peak. The TJovemment offence in regard to these matters is too plain to ignore, and even ardent supporters in all walks of citizenship are criticising the position adversely. Mr Wilford now has an opening for attack that is at once fair and legitimate removed even from the sphere of purely party , politics.

There appears to he much searching of possibilities to glean whether Sir Joseph Ward will "come back” to Dominion politics. The matter is being so thoroughly canvassed that it is safe to assume that if the ex-P'rime Minister cared to enter the fray he would be returned with flying colours. The fact, too, that so maiiy offers of seats in both Islands have been made to Sir Joseph Ward, confirms the belief that his temporary eclipse in public favour has long passed, and that there is an ardent desire for the service of his undoulrted talents in administration ajjain. Our Wellington correspondent in his letter published yesterday. canvassed the subject very precisely, and it would appear there is a good deal of truth in the conclusion reached—that Sir Joseph Ward will he content to remain outside politics for a while longer at least and further enjoy the rest which jis now his. The latest reply of Sir 1 Joseph Ward to the invitation to contest Kaiapoi seat road as a negative only as j regards that particular seat, which from all accounts will return to Liberal ! domination next December in any case. \ Sir Joseph was equally definite in dej dining to stand for Rotorua where again he. would be in favour, as it was I due to his foresight'as Minister in 1 Charge of Tourist Resorts that Itoto- | rua has attained the prominence it has. i It has been stated Sir Joseph would ! stand for a city seat, presumably in I Wellington, but wc fancy if he entered the fray at all it would he for his old seat at Awarua. The prospects of success in that quarter are very promis- | in g, but his own health and peace of j mind are of first importance and if he “came back” just now whether in I power or not a very great burden would j be thrown upon him as so much would ibe expected on him, so seriously ©n- , tangled are the financial affairs of the | Dominion. On the whole, it would ap- | pear Sir Joseph Ward will elect to j stand aloof, for the present time would be a serious strain on him if his health is as yet not all that his friends would wish it to be.