The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1923. THE PREMIER’S DEFENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1923. THE PREMIER’S DEFENCE.

The Prime Minister’s speech in the House on Thursday evening last was interesting from the fact that Air Massey summed up the position from the Reform point of view. By Thursday it was clearly understood that the Government would win on a crucial division by three votes, so it was not surprising that Mr Massey struck a more confident note as to the result, than some of his Ministers did earlier ’ll the debate. Doubtless lie realised the obvious difficulties ahead of him, and on that account he was continuing to make overtures to the Liberals to come over and assure a stable Government Mr Massey rather egotistically thinks that the alternative to himself is Laker. Now that is preposterous. Labour commands le«s than twenty votes

ill tile House. The danger to the Government is the Liberal party. If all the members had voted to their platform pledges and color, Reform would be out to-day. Mr Wilford would have bad the obligations of forming a Min istry. If he failed to carry in there could not have been any Labor Ministry alternative, for if Mr Holland moved adversely, Labor could not get a majority against the Liberals without the support of the Reformers, On. a test Labor division Reform would be expected to do what the Liberals di 1 last week. Fit her to support the Liberals as against the Labor party, or else Hot to vote, in which ease Air Will'ord's party would have a majority of not less than live votes. So the alternative to Reform’s defeat is not as terrible as Mr Massey would lu.ve the people- Believe. Mr Massey railed, against the three party system -but that is not necessarily an evil. Wit!' independents there nio invariab’’. more than two parties in Parliament. (\rtainly a two party Parliament is very clear cut and convenient, but the public have their say in the mar. and individuals have to accept the will t.l the people. Mr Massey at oi;; stage of his speech referred to tlm “wretched three party system” but be could not have it otherwise--its the peoples'

will, and when it suited him be made the most use of it. He also railed against vote splitting, hut the people of this constituency know that Mr Massey particularly was ready to use vote-splitting as a means to suit his own ends. In tile Westland contest he pm up a third candidate with an official Reform tag with the avowed object of vote-splitting. He, apparently, wanted to oust the sitting Liberal at all costs, even against the wishes of his own Reform colleagues, and at the advice of independent political organisations. Probably lie was gratifying bis own personal pique, and satisfying other folk who were sore

over past events. Anyhow, Mr Massey deliberately set about the task of unseating a Liberal and putting In a follower of ‘'Revolutionary Socialism” as he styled tile Labor party on Thursday night. To ensure success in Westland, Mr Massey, at the risk of Ids own health made a special visit to the electorate and delivered four speeches to aid the success of the “revolutionary'’ candidate. Mr Massey says the use of vote-splitting ‘'lias become almost scientific and has been used in recent elections.'' Mr .Massey ought to know. Tie was at the head of a movement in Westland so used, but when he finds that in the general result throughout the Dominion he ith(‘ sufferer to some considerable extent, and has pitted against him “revolutionary socialists” who Have doubled their parliamentary strength. Air Massey is so politically ill over the discovery that lie is inclined to be quite saintly about the situation and now bolds up his hand ill horror and presumes “to warn” Parliament what is happening. lie was the arch offender not only in the case of the Westland seat. Hut in other electorates also, and it is not without satisfaction to learn now that he does not appreciate doses of his own medicine. Mr Massey's defence in railing against “revolutionary socialism” is a, very poor one when lie personally went out of his way. as in the case of Westland to foster the growth of that “ism” so far as its parliamentary strength is concerned. The Prime .Minister by his tactics jeopardised the fate of his own party in Westland for all time, for it is felt that what he did was done deliberately, even malevolently, and those sort of tactics will not win favor. It was an action which will be remembered, can never he fully forgiven and in regard to the future of Reform can never he forgotten.