The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1927. A LIBERAL REVIVAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1927. A LIBERAL REVIVAL.

T.jikhr is the promise of a re;il Liberal revival at last in tlio Dominion. For some time now the party lias been sorely torn asunder, hut the position is being realised, and a better understanding has been-brought a 1 h> ll l. The two main sections are the Nationalists and the Liberals, ami if associated as they should he they are capable of doing much good. At the time of course the Opposition in Parliament is not effective numerically, and it is less so because of the schisms among the Liberals. The Labor half of the Opposition has been persistent in its criticism <f the Government, and in that respect has done much good. The Liberals have been critical also, hut only as individuals, and lacking combination their words have been without the force coming from unity. If this is changed now it will lie a good thing for the Government which appears bent on proceeding sure of its numerical strength in all emergency. A strong critical Opposition, even though reduced in numbers, can draw enhanced strength from its unity, and combined to that end the Government would find itself bound to respect the views and the wishes of the Opposition to a much greater extent than is now the ease. The Lil>orais as a combined party are capable of bringing about a political revival which could he felt throughout the length ot New Zealand. There are great traditions to build upon, and the present session short as it lias been has shown that the individual members are capable of vnl- [ uablo initiative. The political creed hound up in the term Liberal stands for the people as a whole in a manner which no other -party has succeeded in doing. And Liberalism in New Zealand must come again. The alternative has been tried, and it is found | wanting. There are complaints on all sides. In every •branch of the Government administration there are shortcomings which are the subject of serious criticism. In particular the country feels the pinch of the taxation and there is not any hope of legitimate reform. On the contrary the people are told that it has to be endured. The Minister of Finance gave the country bis Budget Statement last week, and bluntly put it that taxation could not bo reduced. On the contrary there is looming ahead the revision of the Customs the intention of which will be to produce more revenue. And while this is so there is nothing definite proposed or attempted in regard to a land policy. The lest the Minister can do is to temporise, but even then folk are said to be going off their farms in the North Island, and there is no effort to secure any material increase in the number of people going on the land. We take it therefore that the time is not only opportune lor a Liberal revival, but it is needful also for the ultimate good of New Zealand. In studying the prospects and the urgency for a fusion in the interests of the Dominion at large, the Auckland “Star” g"es on to remark that the idea that Liberalism in this country is a spent force is entirely at

variance with the returns for the last two or three general elections, which prove beyond doubt that: under favourable conditions Liberalism could once more dominate our political w rid. Lack of a definite practical policy, inefficient leadership, hopelessly divided forces—these defects might have ruined a far stronger party as a political fighting force. But Liberalism as a political creed is indestructible and eternal, and to restore the party to its pristine strength and vitality all that is needed is to remedy these deficiencies. That the time is ripe for a radical change in. our political conditions no one who has watched carefully the signs of the times is likely to deny. The failure of the Reform Government. its extravagance, its sliift-lessne-s. its stupid blunders, and its overbearing contempt for local rights and constitutional principles have been denounced and deplored in the most emphatic language by its own journalistic organs. If Liberalism can now present a strong and united front to “Reform.” a. .change will soon come over the political scene.