WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

TFIE POLITICAL PARTIES. THROUGH REFORAI SPELTACLKS. (Special to “ Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON. Any. 8. Under t lit- heading "The Party Shulllo '’ the “ Dominion ” this morning reviews the later day history-of the Liberal Party with a juidicial perception which even the " stalwarts of the ILtdica! brigade can hardly resent. "The history ot the "Libera.' Party in New Zealand,” it says. " lias had associated with it some ot the greatest figures in our public life. In llte days of its power and influence it always possessed leaders of recognised strength of character and ability. It did not always manage to secure the services of men of the peculiar gifts of the Right Hon. E. J. Seildnu. whoso capacity for anticipating public •sentiment and moulding it to suit bis political purposes was quite exceptional. Rut those at the head of the party in Its palmy days invariably were men who filled in some measure at least the requirements of leadership.” The morning paper, dealing with the tacts as they stand, goes on to say that the decadence of the Liberal' Party began with the death of Mr Seddon and that since then, drifting from principles to expediency, it has lacked the inspiration of true leadership. No one will be more ready to acknowledge the truth of all this than will the “ stalwarts " themselves. THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE.

The “ Dominion ” continues in the same analytic view without offering a single suggestion that can be regarded as unfair. “ Rearing these facts in mind,” it says, “ wliat possible hope is there of a revival of the Liberal Party under tbc guidance of Mr W. A. Veiteli? What is there in the political record of Mr Veiteli which justifies his assumption that lie possesses the qualifications which wii'l alight anew the flame of Liberalism and stir the dead ashes of the past into fresh fires of enthusiasm ? It will he conceded that tho member for Wanganui has given evidence of industry and perseverance, and that his experience lias given him familiarity with the forms and procedure of Parliament. But lie lias shown no real grasp of affairs and no evidence of the driving force or tbc qualities id personality which compel attention and inspire confidence ■in a leader.” Of the possible alternatives to Mr Veiteli as leader of tlio Liberal Party, the

• “Dominion” says that Kir Joseph Ward might be debated by his health from entering upon so huge it task ; and Mr Wilford failed under a similar strain, and that Mr Forbes, though industrious and persevering, has not captured the public imagination. .SUMMING I P. Having surveyed the position in ali' its hearings the ” Dominion,” without | asperity and without unction, proceeds to its summing up. ”It would seem,” it concludes, ” to indicate the futility of the new movement. There is no leader in sight, and indeed no real party for him to lead if he were in sight. And to carry the argument a .step further, no need for another ; party. There are quite enough divisions in Parliament as it is. and far i too great a tendency to split up into sections of interests. The financial depression which Ims passed over the country has been seized on to saddle the Government with responsibility for matters which are liable to bring it a certain measure of unmerited unpuptij larity. That, however, need not he ! taken too seriously. It will pass fo: ■ the most part with the bail limes. Mr Veiteli and his hopeful friends will' be disillusioned if they build their hopes on the public preferring a Veiteli Government to a Coates Government.” To this conclusion no great exception can be taken. In preferring a Coates Government' to a Veiteli Government the

public |»i‘i•}>!!l»lv would be proceeding upon tbo principle that a mediocre Government it know was bettor than one it did not know, but oven then its choice would not necessarily bo justified. THE PLAIN FACT. The truth of tln> whole matter is that the Reform Party, after kickin'' at the I pricks of Liberalism lor twenty odd i years, stole, as many prophets predietj al it would, the policy of its opponj cots, and on making even more proj fuse promises than the Liberals had made scrambled into office by means which, if not strikingly heroic, at least] were permissible, and in the long run probably saved Liberalism from a more deplorable debacle than otherwise would have been the case. The constituencies, however, were by no means convinced of tbo advantage of the change, and blit for the war Mr Massey and his colleagues undoubtedly would have been expelled from office, and ns it was, were compelled to accept a National Government in which Sir Joseph Ward insisted upon orpin! representation in the Cabinet and selected bis own portfolio, that of Finance. The Liberal 1 blunders of the 1019 elec-1 lion need not be recalled, except to observe that tbo fear of Sir Joseph Ward and bis associates of being identified with Labour left them in a hopeless position. All the weight of an inequitable system of election was turned against them. Mr Massey’s successor is living on flic achievements of bis great predecessor and be will survive just as long as Liberalism continues to lack the imagination to which the “ Dominion ” refers.