THE BOLTED DOOR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1925, Page 4

THE BOLTED DOOR

(“ Lyttelton Times.”) The future historian oi New Zealand, if he bo as impartial politically as a historian should, will record ol the Hon J. 0. Coates that his first act as Prime .Minister was to throw away the most valuable opportunity that ever can>.'.' within the grasp ol his party the opportunity of gaining a secure majority in both the House and the country at the price of allowing the Liberals a hand in the framing of policy. The statements made by the leaders of the Reform and Eihcial I aities in Parliament on Tuesday show only too clearly how the opportunity was lost. Mr Coates was not prepared to offer the Liberals even so much as a formal reconstruction of the Cabinet and a formal recognition ol fusion as. the price of their adhesion. All that was available was a promise that when Mr Coates thought lit to bring it about there would he a reconstruction and a fusion, hut that the new Reform leader coii'idered himself hound to carry out the "policy of the late Mr Massey” until lie had presented hiinseii to the electors. The instalment of the policy ol the late Prime Minister outlined in the speech from the Throne was so lacking in character and courage that we cannot believe that -Mr Coates hiinseii seriously believed in this part of the excuse for killing the fusion negotiations.

The plain fact behind all the polite letters and vague resolutions that have played their part in the conversations between the parties is the unwillingness of a substantial section of the Reform Party to make any concession, however small, to the Liberals. The only delinitc question of principle disclosed in the resolutions is the matter ol electoral reform--we must confess that we do not quite understand the reierone' lo long-dated mortgages-—and on that point tie Reformers seem to have been as onposed to reform as ever. Oil l-li' Liberal side there was an abnegation of personal interests that commands the very highest admiration ; on the Reform side a tenacious hold upon all material advantages and all the tenets cherished by the party. However, the position is not one that can he helped by recriminations, nor. in.ou mature relleetiou, does the outcome appear to he a matter lor regret. It is regrettable, of course, that it lias not been found possible to construct a new national party, but only regrettable because the materials have been found to be lacking lor the forming of such a parly on a basis of sound, progressive principles. 11 is not regrettable that the Liberals have refused to become the hewers of wood and drawers of water for an agrarian group that has no desire to broaden its constitution nor to make itself representative of the nation rather than of a ( lass. The terms offered to the Liberals. if such evasive replies as were returned to plain questions could he (idled terms, were such as could not I, ■ honourably accented by anv party with the national interests at heart and weli-deliiied convictions :ts to the way in which those interests could best bo served. As Mr Coates has pul it, there is a need for a party that shall combine the auti-.SiK ialistie elements in polities, but such a partv to be effective in th.e combat must not be confined to a class. The party led by Mr Holland in Parliament is principally objectionable because it is avowedly the party of n class', and its political philosophy is based upon the supposed divine right of that class to rule. Tim agrarian party led by Mr Coates is not proud of its class. Ii i- too narrow a party lo (omnvend a majority following in the country and it relies upon a democratically dishonest, electoral law to k ep it on the Treasure benches. If, has been given its opportunity to reform, hut it has preferred pot to risk anv of the loaves and the lislies.