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Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1925, Page 2

If the expectations ns to the formation of a National political party from the co-operation of members of the existing Reform and Li'ieral parties are realised, the country will expect a national policy. It is remarked frequently in the, press comment that there is very little difference in the general policy of the ttvo parties, But this is

only a superficial statement. As Reformers arc the inheritors of Conservatism vo know that there is a u>nsiderable distinction between the two. Init to-.lay there is less noon-inn than ever to assert lornter Conservative leanings. Twenty years ago when Mr Sethlon was in his prime, and the liberals Here reselling New Zealand from the pnlilh.nl slough in whieli the Conservative. had plat-ad the country, there was a very marked difference, and for yea is v r .Ma.ss,ey and his followers strenuously opposed the progressive policy of the l.iheral.s, which hy its self-reliance, its regard for the welfare of the massed, and its attention to sale finance, rescued New Zealand from the plight ill whit It it was in when the l.iheral.s took office on their long reign. All this is a retord in many ptibli. ations dealing with the subject, hut ’’e detc.’s need not lie recalled now. Sulfite it to say that in the end the Conservatives were constrained to change their politi.al name and began to embrace biberal measures which in the initial stages they fought tenth and nail. A National policy must come, and that in essence, must be Liberal. It will require Liberal minded leaders, and for that reason Mr Coates might be the safest Prime .Minister at this juncture, at all events till Mr Stewart returns—sale anti bodily well it is to he hoped—to assist .Mr Coates in a national policy which must be for safe progress. There is one other highly essential aspect of the policy to be taken into account. That is finance, to which relerence will be made in the next paragraph.

Kinaxck was never a strong joint with the Conservatives or the latter day Reformers. They had a way of muddling through it is true. Their criticism of Liberal finance was never effective. Their comment of the sell-reli-an e introduced, was all astray, ‘‘Galloping t i a deficit” was the prediction width was never realised. The small leans negotiated on the Loudon market and condemned hy the opponents of the Liberal policy were trilling to the habit of Reform going as often as it could seemly to London to borrow in huge millions. It was a not unhapjiy circumstance for Reform that when the ('leal War came, the Liberals, ever true to the best interests of the country, helped to form a National Cabinet, ami it was in keeping with the titness < things that a Liberal had charge of the linancc. The records show how well lina.noe was handled on that occasion, hut when the war was over, and the National Cabinet disbanded. Reform left, to its own device, was not. hug in making ducks and drakes of The financial storehouse Sir Josejdi Maid had left behind him. .Mr .Massey had t> take the port folio when Sir .lames Allen went Home. It "as not a wel- , nme legacy, and .Mr .Massey must hate found linancc his most difiieiill depot menl. dot now New Zealand is hor-

1-c M illoften a.s she may. It is a mistaken policy. Indeed the jiracti e •d11:v... a lack c! policy. The National Party if it come- into being will require a v.cil q ll aiih c< 1 .Minister ol I'maicc. The ! e.-t man for the position is owt-ide the House, lie should lie in Parliament, vith the least possible delay for there is not a more important matter to the welfare ol New Zealand just now than finance. iiiat portfolio should be in the hands of Sir Joseph Ward, and the new Prime .Minister. if bent on securing a national party, will lose i.o time ill the effort to sc lire that proved and distinguished gentleman for the most important jmst in any Ministry New Zealand may have at this juncture.