The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 10th, 1924. LABOR IN POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 10th, 1924. LABOR IN POWER.

Titk accession of the Labor party at Home to political power has given rise to much concern as to the future of I .a'.or. But the futuro of Labor now .that Labor is in office, depends upon the actions of Labor itself. The ) ise of Labor at Home has been fairly rapid. But all the time it was rising tlu-re was a note of alarm sounded as to the danger to the country ahead if Labor passed into power. Then suddenly the political miracle happened, and Labor was at the foot of the ladder. Its ability to climb to lame rested in the first instance upon the support of the ].ibeials to give the party a footing. The Uherals did so. and so a Labor Government was la lim bed. The announcement of the personnel of the Ministry at once won support. It was not unduly “red”, nor was it particularly strong in radical Labor representatives. Jt was a watered-down combination taking office after all with more blessings than curses, and the generally expressed resolve to give Labor a chance. Naturally a great deal of the success of the Labor Government at Homo iis anywhere else—depends upon its leadership. This is true equally of any other party in power. Labor produced the man for the hour, and in Mr Ham. .MacDonald experience is showing that tile cliniie is probably the very best that could have lieen made. Mr Mael.’oimM and several of bis colleagues are adapting themselves to the new positions very readily. To begin with. Labor cannot 1.-o charged with the lack of variety in regard t.<> political ideas. The danger there is in this respect is that the thought may he too advanced, too socialistic, c.r too communistic. But Mr MacDonald appeals to he holding his team in hand with even promising success of going on a longer political journey than promised :--t the outset. There is no doubt that responsibility of office has been a cheek to many of the more advanced theories pot forward in pre-office days. There is the need to move circumspectly in regard to many planks of the party, and Mr MacDonald is sensing the situation not at all uncleverlv. He has been face to face with more than one serious crisis. But ho has shown a breadth of leadership which has at least saved the situation for the time being, and genet ally added to his prestige as a promising politi

lender. So we come to the prospects of the future. At the moment T.ahor rule is more or less at the mercy the minorities in the Commons. Conservatives and Liberals will never come to love each other, blit neither patty is too ready to push Labor out so that some advantage might accrue to the other. Meantime Labor is making the best of this age-old political antipathy, and is rather thriving on it. In that way Labor is building up its own future. Sane leadership is helping too. so that if in a sudden moment of pique the Opposition should unexpectedly unite and defeat the Government on a vital matter, Labor would go before

tho people in n much stronger position than they did in November last when they won 392 scats (though in 1919 they held hut 59 seats). As to the'performances of Labor to date, there seems to l)e no gainsaying the fact that in regard to the foreign policy Labor has done exceedingly well. It has been a case usually of England muddling through her diplomatic overtures, but as far ns has been revealed there is less muddling just now. and more real effort to win the respect of our Continental neighlwrs than at any time. Tho foreign policy means a great deal to tlso Empire as a whole and the achievement of Labor is thus very noteworthy. As regards fiscal proposals; Britain is very much distraught on the subject of free trade and protection. Tho subject is now up for dose discussion arising out of the British budget, and at the moment Dalior lias a fine opening to make good liy the elicit ivo handling of the whole complex question. In regard to domestic matters Labor must needs he progressive, for from that quarter comes its main voting strength. There are upwards of five million trades unionists interested in the political Labor party, and so great a following will he looking for some return, for placing Labor in power. It is in this respect that there is special call for careful leadership. The unemployment and housing questions can Ik? met only by great expenditure, and the finding of the money will not lie a light task. Labor is not opposed necessarily because it is Labor, lint liecause of the strong class legislation it espouses. If Labor at Home can maintain the independence of action Mr MacDonald is seeking to claim for it, and live down the complaint as to class legislation, the future of the party promises io expand very considerably as a sane policy is developed.