The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. 5th, 1922. THE BALANCE OF POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. sth, 1922. THE BALANCE OF POWER.

Now that responsible Reform newspapers, are fearing that Air Massey’s pledged supporters in the new House of Representatives will not exceed forty (including two Maori members) it beconics more important than ever that “the balance of power” should rest in safe hands. Assured of onlv lofty votes, the Prime Alinister of course could not carry on even if he succeeded in persuading a member from the other side of the House to accept the Speakership. In 1915, with a ma- 1 jority of two he attempted to hold control and was given the most generous assistance by the Liberal-Labour Opposition, but a few weeks after tlio meeting of Parliament he was glad enough to open negotiations for iv National Cabinet and to accept the ’

terms Sir Joseph Ward imposed. But if the fears of his own newspaper friend* are icnlised, lie will be in a still worse plight when the new Par- . liument meets. He will liaVO nb majerity at all, arid will carry oil only by the grace of orie section of the Opposition or the other: AA’ith this prospect in view, and for the sake of argument we m!»y assume this justified by the fads, it is incumbent ii|OU the ’ electors to sec that tile Opposition is composed of sane, capable men who cun be trusted to deal with such problems with a lively regard to the best interests Of the community-. Wo corifess that wit do not fully trust Air Massey in matters of this lurid. Though oil occasions he inveighs against, the revolutionary Socialists, lie never misses an cpportiiiiitv to magnify Mr Holland and his comrades at the expense of the Liberals. He has expressed a hope that the Leader of the Labor Party will he successful at the approaching election, and is pointedly linin' deferential to the Labour members of the House than lie is to the Liberal members. In this connection, by the way, it is significant that tile Reformer opposing Afr Holland for the Duller seat, is described in the official list of candidates as an “Independent.” As a matter of fact, there are no Independent Reformers, unless the term may he correctly applied to All E. H. Andrews. Mr George Pearce. Miss Melville, and Airs McVicftr-, who appear to have butted into this contest without seeking the approval of the Party Chief. It is not an Independent Reformer, we may be sure Air Massty hiis sent into the AVaimarino electorate to punish Air R. AA r . Smith, the Liberal candidate, for having indiguantlv refused to make such a compact with the Reform party as Mr Leonard Isitt has made. Here the only possible effect of the chastisement of Air Smith for having placed duty before safety, can lie the return of one of the

reddest of the revolutionary Socialists. Happily the remedy for this kind i f thing is in the hands of the electors. Tlio Prime Alinister knows perfectly well that the distrust which lias been brought upon the name of Labour in this country is mainly due to the nefarious teaching and malign influence of the very people lie is inviting to assist him in driving progressive Liberalism and sane Labour into the Reform camp. He is risking a teriiblo catastrophe to the whole community by playing with edged tools for purely party purposes. Let him once break down the safeguard provided by the evolutionary methods of the Liberal* Labour combination, and the full flood of revolutionary Socialism will lit l upon the country. The doctrine of Air Holland and his associates is not equality of opportunity, and equality of sacrifice, but class privilege and class domination. They are not seeking the greatest good for tbe greatest number, but some imaginary short cut to comfort and prosperity for themselves. Their theories where they differ from the theories of observant intelligent people the world over, have broken down wherever they have been tried, and too often have brought untold trouble and misery in their train. 'Everything that is sound and good in their programme is already in the Liberal-Labour programme, backed by the experience and effort of earnest men and women. Let the endorsement of file electors on Thursday of that sound and good programme bp emphatic and overwhelming.