The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West. Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1925.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West. Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1925.

YESTERDAY'S P(>U.fXO. Tiie outstanding feature of yesterday’s polling was the sweeping majority of the Government. It may tie said at once that the result is a tribute jersonally to the Prime Minister. Hon. J. G. Coates, who will no"' Ik.* very fairly in tHo political saddle. Those who predicted a Coates wave was to submerge the political aspirations of the other two parties, were correct in their estimate, and the result calls t > mind the more wonderful result even which attended the last election condueted by the late R. J. Seddon. It is clear that had the Reform Party permitted the fusion proposals to lie consummated prior to the election. Mr Coates' victory would have lieen more pronounced even than that of the late It. J. Seddon's. As it is, however. Mr Coates has a jiarty composed of representatives pledged to him personally, and he may go far. The country will expect Mr Coates to load on national lines, and we shall expect also that in effect his policy "ill be more Liberal than Reform. Unless that results, the political pendulum has the habit of swinging the other way at times, and history might repent itself. The depletes! ranks of the National and Labor are not likely to fuse to any close degree. But there is sure to lie some readjustment'of ideas, and we may expect if Mr Coates is as progressive as is expected, that the hulk of the Nationals will lie siding with him. Two or three of the Nationals may ally themselves with Labor, if the latter party remodels its policy. That policy was tried and found wanting sadly at yesterday’s poll. Tho extreme and extravagant ideas must be dropped if a political Labor party is to find acceptance in this country. There must be

plain disassoeiation with the rovolutiouarv and “red” element, and a nn.r sane attitude in regard to industrial disputes. Tt will not do for Labour to countenance any and every strike which comes along, and to side always with the recalcitrants when there is a legal process ready at hand to solvo all troubles in a reasonable way. There is no doubt that the negative attitude on the part of La!>or members to the British seamen’s strike did the party great harm. The polling shows that generally. However, politics are ever a changing scene, and experience after all is the host teacher. The surprises of the election were visited most disastrously on the Nationals and Labor, and some names prominent in the late Parliament will disappear from the arena. Probably the Government victory is not in the main surprising. It is certainly a great victory for Mr Coates who has proved a magnetic leader at the time when the party required the popular load. Mr Coates has justified his selection from the party point of view. It' remains to he seen now how he will justify it a.s the leader nationally of the country.