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Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1923, Page 2

As regards probabilities it has to he said that Labor, if not on the box seat, lias received enough encouragement to warrant hopes of getting there rather sooner than later. In .Messrs Ramsay Macdonald, Arthur Henderson, .1. H. Thomas, J. N. Clynes. aud others, there aiv notable men who have played a very pi eminent part in currying the Labor campaign to its present vantage point. The quartet io arc four gentlemen who have served the country well on notable occasions; hut behind them of eutir.-'o is a strong socialistic element which ordinarily is too strung evert for the tiied men the leaders have proved themselves to l.e. That is, they are in fact the puppets of the party, and on thin account would not bo a.s warmly acclaimed if they reached office, as they would if they were given power to exercise it under their own judgment. Tlieie is a vigor and a flesh ness about these men who if they passed into office, might for a time at least, make doincsli affairs more tranquil; but also it they did not move fast enough to plca.se their partisan’-, would lose stippoit, and their position at tin t stage would he "ins: than it i.s now. To succeed, a Labor .Minis’, iy must go the w hole way of the Labor programme—and that means financial disaster.

L’t l w i:i;n the extreme of the Labor party and the failure of the Unionists, there remains t lit- middle, or safe, party Liberals. That in a position a|. in to the experience of New Zealand. The Liberals are the safety value of this country when the real political pressure comes. So nt Home with the brilliant—and tiied leidcis such as Mr Lbjyd George and Mr Asquith, national aims and aspirations arc perfectly safe. 'I hey regard the masses itt the whole, alio not a.s classes. And having offered siuii distinctive criticism to the Unionist polity of prefcieiKC and fiscal reform, it. will he for the party now to tniducu a constructive policy to icplnce it. In the debacle which has overtaken the (iovornment, it is not too much to say that the platform work of the Libcals was the chief contributing factor. If Mr Lloyd George were merely lookin'.' for personal satisfaction for the way in which the Unionists treated hint

".sen they pushed hint out of olliee. lie has the satisfaction now of knowing tlwi his personal effort was file gieatest individual I’arlor in p,hieing the government in the minority position in which last week’s polling leaves it.

Til!.' present week is going to he a notable one for Hokitika in pari ieular. for the district as a whole it will mark a ti.-w era. The people of Hokitika have taken their courage in both hands ami this week will see launched a very notable project. It is greater and larger than most people expected. Probably it. surprises even the promoters themselves, hut withal ii is going to be n x i-ry fine Kxhibilion. In that respect it is already an outstanding .success. There are all tlm elements to make it a great success from every point of \iew. It is Well supported oil all sides, Trom the Government down the project has received libel id patronage. The week-end will see the town full of visiiois. ii is for the townspeople to rise to the occasion and in every way possible make the visitors welcome ami their stay a pleasant one. The townspeople will enjoy a busy time moi the next- two months, and the wave will not subside readily even tileii, for Master will he in sight, and the district, will have had such an advertisement as a tourist and holiday resort than the influx of visitors will continue, and so a period of sustained prosperity "ill have Ixeen established.