The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated tho West Coast 'limes. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 11th, 1921. THE POLITICAL TANGLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated tho West Coast 'limes. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 11th, 1921. THE POLITICAL TANGLE.

I’oi.mcs at Home are certainly in the melting-pot just now. 'I his is a lamiliar IT''lire of speech which tits the situation very accurately. Lahor has Logun to light with its buck to the wall, for it sees in the development- of events that the Liberals, mainly hitherto for

retaining Labor in 1 nuer. are not l< lie relied on ill regard 10 a enieia issue, sneli as the Aiiglo-Knssian tiealy Yet. it is plain that Lai or adhere, to the treaty out of .sheer party policy which in this instame amounts to ex

pediemy to placate the extreme momheis .it the party uho arc both noisy and numerous. The Conservatives leel fairly confident that they will remain a substantial party, but the Liberals who have not recovered from the schisms following the days of the Coalition, arc not likely to lie so pronounced or useful a parly as they oiicc wen l , at least for a time. The critics arc saying that the three party system

is disappearing, and the end is to lie the two party. Conservatism versus Socialism. Socialism of course has its dcgiees. So far the Labor party lias advanced its facial planks in a restrained manner. But this is probably a pose while the party is at the merev i f the Liberals, as at present. Once in more dominant numbers, its aims will not lie masked so designedly, and the moderation of the past will givu way to more (Nisitive radical action. That Labor lias sane ami worthy leaders in .Mr Ramsay .MacDonald, .Mr Thomas and Mr dynes, goes without saying. Before attaining mlinisteria. rank they bad proved themselves. Since being charged with their high ofliees. they have comported themselves with special distinction on many occasions. They have made the most of their opportunities to make good, and have succeeded beyond exportations when they first took office. The alarm of those days lias given way to something like quiet- confidence, even though the eritios portend evil once Labor is secure in the seat of Cfovernment. But the present, service has been of such educational value, that when full ami complete. opportunity comes, the yoke of office will he a burden of responsibility not to he treated lightly, and perhaps alter all the nation need not he too fearful of the possibilities. The inevitable appeal to the people has come quickly and ill the general election to be held it seems to be generally accepted the odds will be in favor of the (iovernment. Out of lb burly burly may come a new alignment of parties. The complex issues in Europe which affect (Beat Britain have 111*011 handled not uiiintclligently nor unsuccessfully liv Labor. Conservatives and Liberals in fusion, and separately, tried to cope with the issues, but failed to make material progress. Labor certainly has made some progress, though the final issue is doubtful. The national sentiment at the moment will he probably to give Labor a further opportunity to complete the -task it has in hand. It 1 an extremely difficult on in any case, and will try the Statesmanship of any party. The task is not to In* envied really, yet it says something for the optimism of the nation that the rival political parties stiive so gallantly to grapple successfully with the complexities cf the position. However, so far rts parties are concerned a definite crisis is at hand, and the solution is in the hands of the people themselves.