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Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1924, Page 2

The past few days have seen the first steps taken towards the solution ot Britain’s political problem. The Conservative Government was detested by tin combined forces of .Labor and Liberals, and of the latter parties the for-n-pi was selected in choose the new Government. This was all well foreshadowed, for the course of events gave out many pointers, and the Pre-mier-elect, as the Labor leader was generally regarded, went ahead with I l:e selection of his Cabinet. Air Baldwin’s fate was hoyoml (jui’.stiuii. once it was known the Liberals would vote with the Labor amendment to oust the Government really defeated at. the polls. The new Government may he regarded as temperate one. It is not particularly “rod” as the cable comment has indicated, nor is it one of marked raw material, for the reason that it contains men who have held office previously. and who have a wide experience of both Homo and foreign affairs. It remains to bo seen how far the Prime MSinister will dominate the political position. It is not likely ho will have as free a hand us the leader of the other parties, because 'Labor is governed generally by a caucus. But the Prime Minister has not shown any disposition to move hurriedly. He "ill tecl his way, and his first difficulty will he the limits of the patience among his own rank and file. The average Britisher will he disposed, now that Labor has gained power, to give Labor a chance to justify itself. The time has arrived for the expression of theories to cease, and views on public questions must now ho put- into practice. ■J his will lie the testing time from both within and without. The yoke of responsibility which has been set about the new Prime Minister "ill not ho a light one. He has a most difficult task to discharge for lie must please at least both his own party and the Liberals, or the slender thread by which lie holds office will bo hroken. and tho political problem of Britain will be again as difficult as ever

The New Zealand political position is somewhat akin to that of Great Britain. Mr Massey has returned front the Old Country to face a problem very much like that of the Mother land. Here, it is true, the Governmnet’s position is not quite so precarious, because, unlike the Baidu in Cabinet, it. will he able to meet the House with the backing of a slender majority. But in both cases the aukward arrangement of parties is such as

to indicate that only by means of the coalition, or fusion, of two of the three parties will it be possible to secure Parliamentary stability without roeourso to another appeal to the electorate. Actually, Mr Massey holds office by Ujo grace of votes from members elected as Liberals, but their faithful support has stood Mr Massey in good stead. Here, Liberals and Labour do not fraternise on policy questions, though, as at Home, they have united forces to defeat, the Government, but failed because Mr Massey was able to secure the necessary measure of Independent Liberal support. But Mr Massey is politically adroit, enough to hold the. fort till the next election comes round in the ordinary course. The changes at Home, however, will have tr.eir reflective value on oversea polities. Certainly New Zealand will be sitting up and taking notice of the progress of events. The Labor party here will seek to make all the capital it can out of the opportunity which has come at Home, so that it will bo scon Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s opportunities, as liis responsibilities, are indeed very far-reaching. Socialism is being very widely discussed, and it depends how fat the Government will go with legislation of an advanced social character. The Liberals in New Zealand made tleir greatest advance with a phase of socialism reasonably modified to the country’s needs. The point is to strike the happy mean. That is the test of line statesmanship, and it- will be in that task where Mr Ramsay Macdonald may make good or otherwise. For a period New Zealand Liberal legislation was a pattern for the whole world. If the new Prime Minister is to make good, the world will take pattern from his opportunity to legislate wisely and well.