WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THUF.K PARTY SYSTEM. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, .May 21 The danger of the three party system in politics was emphasised hy -Mr G. W. Forbes M.P., a leading member of the Liberal-Labour Party, on his return recently from a visit to Australia. This bane of modern democracy obtains in almost all the States of Australia, and was a feature ol the Commonwealth when the Country Party came into existence, but it compromise was arranged at the expense of Mr W. M. Hughes, wlm forfeited the Premiership. The three party system gave Britain the present Labour Government and the two traditional parties. Conservative and Liberal, show no signs of coalescing. The three party system obtains in New Zealand as we id I k ami competent observ-

ers are r..' opinion that unless the Reform Party and the LibcraßLabottr Party tin I common ground for cooperating the next election will see Hire*, ill'll of tile Labour Parly with n majority. The Reform Party lias at least twice indicated its willingness to join fori es with the Liberal-Labour Party, under an oquitab!.' arrangement and it is searching for this equitable arrangement that is going to lie very dillieiilt. Amalgamation of the Parties will mean the elimination of one of the leaders, and probably of several of the rank anil fill', and call it he imagined that politicians will be willing to efface themselves for the hencfil of the i• ttl>li<*F The idea that the Reformers and the Liberals ran amalgamate. or will do so i- a wild and fcolisl. dream. The personal equation is an insurmountable barrier to any success in iliis direction. Ti is probable [bat tlie country will lie obliged to tolerate the three party system at the next eleetieti. and the chances are with the known political tiniest that the Labour Party will receive a mandate from tile elector-.

BETTER AND Til E ENITED STATES’ In January and Fcbimiry the Uniied States purchased a considerable quantity of Danish butter, and New Zealand was also drawn inimi for a fair quantity, and the total aggregated D.oOD.ntHI lbs. These pun-liases had the elfcel of raising prices in the British market tor all classes of butler, but it had the reverse ell’ect in the Failed States lor L is reported to have caused a rapid decline to a price which was little, if anything. above the cost of production. This latter is. of euiir.se, very high in the l.’niiod States. Quito recently the Germans operateil on Dani-li butter ami forced up ihe price of that btitier to “Ids when the Germans had to cave in. An American Senator is on the war path and itp may be eortain that the Tariff ( olnmission with its wide powers will increase the duty oil imported butter, .liter all the producers of food produets have real I v only olio open and reliable market, and that is Britain. Our surplus meat, butter, and cheese nitt't be marketed in Britain, occasionally there tiiav be a side market open lor a limited time, but I lie steady reliable market intisi always he Britain. The British market i- open to receive tie- world’s surplus foodstuffs. and ibis bv design, for on the cheapness of living depends Britain’s chances of siireessitilK competing with other industrial nations in the markers „f [].,. world. POLITICAL LEADERS.

'Hu- prospect - of ihe three political I aiders, Massey, Wilfonl and Holland, are being quietly discussed in clubs .-iii ! wherever men i opgrcgalc. I’ariunnent i- to begin i:- next se--ion on June 2J. and ibis, oi course. Inis .-<•! tengues wagging, and opinion- mid view- are emplia-i-ed with ge-luies. Tt I - alii iei|'.::ted that the -e-sjoli will be • i stormy one, ami tin- -toiin may set in at ihe opening. Tin-re were tun subjects that prnntisci! to provide some bet debates-, lull tiles' wiil lie proof jolt lly stllijltdii e, and members are not iikelv to bleak tlie traditional rides. The two disturbing topics me wlmat

mid meat. Tlie foin:er i- dciiniiely ruled mil owing in the p: mlilig action again-i (crlei:i mill--!- - for alleged b,-< ei-b"- , ; f tb-‘ ( oinim-ivial Trusts Art. mol tin- other by reason of the •••'•oi t - now being made to bring about a merg:':- of tlie meat, companies. A s'ormv sessien does not necessarily no:-!' a di-nbnim: of Rarliainenl. amt -ij.-i-r ejiinioii now incline, to the view [I i l the [n*e -.- n; I’arlimn tit will run n- ro’m'se. ()!' i:,:ir-.e i!■<• r ■ is always the ii'iexpeeled übieli often a rises from some simple matter. I’eop! • me now discussing the relative merit- ol the laadafs. .Mr Massey is credited with 1.-ieg a capable mid competent leader, imi bis term curries a wish

bon- where the haek-bniie ought to I:.-, The people appear iii'ed ol tb'Reform I'e-itae. mid are longing for a

i-t-ianj', notit bstauding that a < limige may mean "i. mnng out ef tlt • frying o.oi into the lire.” The Liberal-Lab-

our Party would have a magnificent (banee if it bad a:i acceptable leg.ter. Tie's Party'- :-!imi<es are c.'.n-iJ-wed to be in..mem! fiy Mr Wilfonl. "Fancy AY i I ford as Prime Minister” is what is on e-.too body*- lips. tf ibe l.iberaiLa.bnpriies could get Sir Joseph Mard to lead tin-tit into site next political lint lie i bat Party weiild win. It is jn-t po-siliie. according to local rumour. ihm another Party, mi oil slmot of the t.iboral-i.ab.our may be formed, who-!: will not recognise Wiiinnl as leader. lb-Jl-'id is in very miteli the -a. 1110 position as Yfdlord, lie. ton, is

.'.lioged t'' be the Jonah of bis parly. ni.cn a mere acceptable leader there are mmiv who would gladly vote Labour. hut linlorl linateh. there are no Ram-ay Macdonalds. C'vnes. or Tboma-'s in the Labour ranks in New Zrolmid. If then- i- to he r.o election in:' i! next year H ell there is plenty of time tor shuffling t!:e card-.