WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAG'D. AN INSPIRATION AND AN EX- i HORATION. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON. Jan 3. I Tho Prime Minister’s message to the . people of New Zealand is at once an inspiration and an exhortation —an appeal for national effort and a call to political unity. “There is still touch to ho done and sacrifices to be made | bv every class and every individual, j Mr Massey says, after reciting what already had. been accomplished. “Suec(\ss depends upon united effort. W ithout what lias been tailed team work, and without enthusiasm there can he no success* Tlie clouds are lilting, the opportunity is here and conditions are already easier. .Lot us as far as is piactienblo drop sectional differences, and for the goesl of tho country of which wc nre citizens let us each take ftp om share of the national burden, which, ll every one does his part, can he carried easily and without hardship or incenvenk«nce. M All this, of course, is vei,\ admirable. UMr Massey possessed no other quality commending him to his “fellow citizens” his perennial optimism would earn him a high place in their regard. It helped them immensely during the dark days of the war and it is helping them now in the- difficult work of rehabilitation. A PERPLEXING POSITION. But to-day Mr Massey finds himself in an extremely perplexing position, having a majority in the n< w House oi Representatives and si 01 being without a majority, llis faithful followers outnumber the followers of cither of the two partv leaders by nearly two to one hut in combination the Liberals ami the Labourites are stronger than tin* Reformers. Whether the Prune Minister’s words nre addressed (specially to member,s of Parliament or particularly lo tho constituencies only those in iiis intimate confidence can say. Whether it is to he a. dissolution of the House and u new election or an arrangement by which Mr Massey can curry on with some measure of comfort and dignity only time can toll. There* has not been much political talk hem during the holiday- and the newspapers, with a proper regard for the traditions of the season, have eschewed controversial discussions altogether, but it is easy to gather from tin casual Irani and street gossip that the idea of another election is not held in any increasing, favour. Thai solution, in fiic opinion of the man in tin utrc-i r should he rbe very last re.-ort. ,\ wbHMNia AT? RANG PATENT. There must la* concessions on both sides, however, if another early appeal to,electors is to he avoided. ’I he Reformers must he prepared to com such a measure of electoral rdorm as would insure the is presentation ol majorities as would he obtained by He* adoption of tin* Hare system, fl a-'" niu-'l recognise lho Liberals as a i' l mid enduring fore 1 in the Louse, ami. if it i. wise, it will cease attacking Labour and reserve its denunciations lor tie few hundred di-loyalisi*- in !aeomitrv who pose as Revolution," o,„.; ,i;'.i and who, for tno most part a,,, shallow illiterate idlers with a" unwholesome craving for notoriety. I m 1 1 iheraU and Ihe Labourites, in return for such concessions as tho may Imrly demand, must, he ready to guarantee the Government against factious opposition. and to facilitate the pas-ag( or such legislation as tho Prime Minister, in conference with the leaders ol ,1,.. other parties, may deem dourablc i„ the interests of the country. I here need l» nothing in i.h" -'ape ■> ■> coal it ion indeed any arrangement ot that kind would seal the late el the Liberal Party and defeat the ' <Ml ends progressive people have m view. CRICKET. Wellington, which a month ago was deplnri'.r the weakness—or at any rate, the youth and inexperience—ot the team selected by Mr •'*. ( • M- 11 [.art'll to give an exposition ol cricket throughout the Dominion is todav realising that it spoke a little too soon. Yeserdav the team ol public school hoys and university men w hos. names did not figure- large ; Home records, routed the elite « Zealand cricket by an innings and 100 lu ns, to sav nothing ol tho two wicke ts that did not fall in its single innings It is true that the redoubt ahlt | j,roll himself made. 200 ol the 1 vr C °’"- 1 ' t-il'c the* place they should m 5 i , :i ~11 over again, me miy.s > tru insures defeat. ->