The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, DEC. 20th, 1923. COMING EVENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, DEC. 20th, 1923. COMING EVENTS.

Tih: lidptul tendency of coining events to cast their .shadows: before makes the ] olitical outlook for the coniine yeai very interesting. Jt has lieeii announced that when Mr T. M. Wilioid returns Irorn his visit to Singapore. the Liberals intend to conduct a campaign tliroiighout the Dominion. They can command some excellent plat, form speakers. Labour is making an effort to build up the party funds. J.ast week the Christchurch branch of the party held a ba/.aar for that purpose. and it cannot he seriously argued that the suppoi'teis of Mr Holland are making this effort in view of an appeal to tlie country at the end of It)'2d. Their actions lead to the conclusion that they expect important developments at no very distant date, and. obviously they are getting ready for the tray. But more significant than cither Liberal or Labour activity, is the ijuiet work which the Reform Party is doing. Members of Parliament have been going about their party's business of late and that explains tiio visit o one or more northern Parliamentarians lu the South Island. People who have had occasion to visit different parts of the Dominion within the past few weeks report that there is an attitude of ex] ectnney noticeable, based on the possibility that Mr Massey’s return may mean rapid and important developments in the political situation. .Admittedly, everything depends upon Mr M issey’s decision. Ho cannot command a working majoiitv in the House and it is difficult to see how he can carry on (lie business of the conn try under existing conditions. 'lll’s fact is now admitted by his supporters, and a strong Reform journal has stater! that: “There are grounds for the belief that the Piime Minister is more and more inclining to the idea of going te> the country and taking the risk.’’ The “risk", in the mind of this particular journal, lies in the fact that ‘ lug business in this Dominion is convinced that the (lovernment is discriminating against it, to the advantage of purely rural interests." The unexP'cssed hope of the party in power is that when its leader retires, with all the nitna of an Imperial leader, all signs of hostility will disappear and the way he opened for a successful appeal to the electors. The very fact that Reform journals aie discussing the possibility of a general election is in itself a significant sign, may be. a shadow of coining events. However Mr Massey lias just witnessed a Conservative Party, full of confidence, appeal In the British electors and suffer heavy defeat. The lesson may not he altogether lost upon the Prime Minister and he may prefer to bear the ills of Parliament, as constituted, than fly to others that he cannot accurately guage. The amount of political activity is m>-

usual at mi. !i a time is ibis, and tile cause of iL all is not difficult to trace. Political developments in 1924 may be both interesting and strenuous.