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Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1923, Page 2

In the course of the Address-iii-reply delate the newly elected member for Westland made his maiden speech in Parliament. Mi O’Brien is a confirmed Labor member and his remarks were in un compromising support of the Labor policy. We have to remember that tor the time being Mr O'Brien is a minority representative, and that lie does not represent the majority of the electors and that least of all when he is out and out for the Labor policy. However Mr O'Hrien is the selected repre-

sontative, and while wo cannot support his extreme political views, we can at least appreciate his sincerity and consistency in regard to his political faith. Mr O’Brien looks forward with confidence to Labor coming into power. On the face of things we believe he is doomed to disappointment. New Zealand's population is so made up that we feel almost sure that the greatest support the extreme party can liope for in this country is a parliamentary strength in the region of 25, or something less than a third of -the House. Democracy is so constituted here that with the interest the small mail has at stake, there is a considerable bulk of tlie laboring class which will not vote for advanced socialism. Moderate radicalism as was demonstrated by the Liberal policy they will support, and it appears to us it is through that generic force in democratic government that tne voice of the people will he chiefly heard of in the future. This suggests tlint the trend in polities will he for Labor to slic’d its extreme views, and to more and more ally itself with the progressive Liberals. A goodly fraction of tlie present Labor strength, is due to vote splitting. The Member for Westland owes his scat to that factor, but if electoral reform comes about on the lines urged for. Labor will lose such seats as Westland. It will not be harmful to the cause of politics generally that Labor should have a larger voice in the country’s progress. AH the Labor policy is not bad, and if some of it can lie grafted on to the present conservative policy, so much tlie better for the general good of the Dominion.

().\K of the phases of Dr Bolin's veiy Lwestmg lecture on Friday night was to emphasise the difficulty and delay in bringing about progressive changes. Economic conditions were judged relatively rather than nationally by the average poison and so it was a slow process bringing a community to one mind about any change which was thought desirable. This being a welldefined trait in human nature, it is perhaps not surprising that the idea of a central dairy factory is not readily seized by the settlers. It is one of those progressive ideas which mean a change, and those farmers who are participating already in the daily industry, and supplying ail established institution, are naturally prone to hold oil in pretore nee to the launching out on a large .scheme. Yet the linger scheme is strongly recommended on all sides and in any case, larger co-ope-ration is the natural sequel to smaller co-operation. Centralisation takes place regularly in most industries sooner or later and in dairying in particular it lias been a proved success. The appeal now being made for some show of unity to launch the local project is worth the closest attention by the

farming class. Mere is the opportunity to establish their own concern and mould it to their own wishes. Tt should lie a plant capable of running all the year round, and it should he possible to establish a very profitable business by local sales. This would apply not only in regard to the butter manufactured on the premises, but also to the extras which the plant could produce, including ice cream and so on.

Mr Parry lately here said tlie receipts of tlie central factory at Westport from these extras totalled £1,500. That is a considerable sum and indicates the volume of business possible when conducted on a larger scale, iu touch with a considerable | opulation. and with progressive ideas at work. It is to be hoped tlie settlers will eon the matter over, and put tlie whole real value for the future progress of the (list riot.