WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1922, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE PARTY TANGLE. ITS unravelling. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, December 18. A retired civil servant, who for nearly twenty years was closely associated in one capacity or another with Ministers of the Crown, and who since his superannuation has devoted considerable time to the study of the political history of the Dominion, gave it as his opinion to-day that there should be no difficulty if both sides were sincere in their profession of concern for the public welfare, in tbe Liberals, and the Reformers coming to an arrangement that would give tho country a stable Government without extinguishing the identity of either party or doing violence to any of its ideals. It was positively immoral, he said, to talk of members of the newly elected Parliament “crossing tbe floor of tlie House” in order that the Government might have the necessary majority to rule without assistance from either of the other parties. Mr 'Leonard Isitt, who openly had made a compact with the Reformers before the election to support them against tho machinations of extreme Labour was free to keep his obligation, but even tbe member for Christchurch North could not honourably change sides with out first consulting his constituents. THE THREE PARTY SYSTEM.

But this did not mean, this authority said that there was no way out of the present party tangle, short of another election which, he thought, might produce a state of affairs even worse than the one existing to-day. The Reformers were in a minority -in the new House. lie went on to say. but, in addition to being the party in possession, they numerically were much stronger than either of the other parties. Tho suggestion that tho Liberal Party should obliterate itself was not worth discussing. Even if the Liberal members were content to go over in a body to the Reform side of the House, a very large proportion of the Lihe al electors would refuse absolutely to abandon their party ideals and aspirations. A new Liberal Party would ho formed within a month, and the inevitable three party system would continue. perhaps with T/ibour for a time constituting tho stronger wing of t’’o Opposition. The expedient might relieve the tension for the time being, but it would ultimately land tho country into a worse predicament bv driving numbers of progressive Liberals and moderate Labourites into the revolutionary ramp.

The urgent needs of the situation, it was pointed out were perfect candour and sincere patriotism. The Reformers must recognise that they were in a minority and the Liberals must recognise that they could not hope to take office without the assistance of extreme Labour. On both sides thee must he readiness to make concessions and to exercise forbearance. For the time tlio finesse of party politics must be set aside. Tbe two parties were pledged neither to hold office nor to Lake office by the grace of the Labour Party. This ] laced upon them the obliligation of making some anaugement among themselves by which the Government of tlie country could be carried on with efficiency and secure iroin the barrassing attacks of extreme Labour. It was for Air Massey as Prime .Minister and as loader of the largest party in the House to make .overtures to the lender of the Liberal Party. It could ho assumed that Loth leaders would he prepared to make their word good by honestly seeking for a basis of agreement. STABILITY AND ELECTORAL REFORM.

Happily the differences between tho parties were not so great, this authority stated in conclusion, that they need be regarded as an insuperable obstacle to a working arrangement. The insistent demand in the election policy of the Reformers had been for a stable Government, in the election policy’ of tho Liberals, for electoral reform. Tho Liberals in the House without offending against any of their election pledges could undertake not to associate themselves with any attack upon the Government involving its existence during the first session of the recently elected Parliament, and the Reformers on their part, could undertake to pass during the same session such a measure of electoral reform as might he agreed upon between the parties. A compact of fhis kind would prejudice neither pa-rt.v. The Liberals would reserve to

themselves tho right of criticising the Government’s measures and of voting against tlieni, except in the circumstances specified, and the Reformers would merely substitute for a system of voting which again has shown itseli unreliable and inequitable, one that would be certain and just. Mr Massey and his friends would have their stable Government, and Mr AVilford and his friends and the country would have their electoral ( reform. -