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Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1927, Page 2

Ai/niocou some of the more ardent of the Reform newspapers are sculling at the possibility ol a real Liberal revival to follow .a real fusion of the parties, it is noticeable that the very attention uie.v give the subject bears out much of the necessity there is tor a stronger party in Parliament to direct the fortunes of the country so that the present days of evil may be escaped as quickly a.s possible. There will be a good deal of agreement with the views of an Oamaru paper which goes on to say that the country will not profit from any addition to its political parties. W hat it stands niii.t in need of is a leader capable of propounding a bold progressive policy that would aim at promoting the welfare of all classes —of the nation as a whole, and uui of any particular section er sections. Were such a lead-

er to appear with such a policy the country would accord him a hearty welcome, and all the progressive p:liticians would railv round him anil hail him as the deliverer from a most unsatisfactory situation. A brave leader with statesmanlike qualities and a sound policy would he a welcome change from the present situation, when the host that is to he said of those in power is that they are. mere miserable! muddlers who trust to something turning up to enable them to scrape through and survive.. It i.s not improbable that the Liberals may do as they did before in a time no less critical for New Zealand than the present. When the hour stink there was 111(11-0 than one lnan in the Liberal ranks capable of controlling and directing the good fortunes of Ihe country. First, tlior'e was Mr Ihi I lance who laid the I'-mmlations of a .'■elf-reliant policy, which .Mr Seddon, owing to the early demise of his chief, had to carry to fruition. Then came Sir Joseph Ward, whose wisdom in handling the finances of the country. kept the country's credit good Also, he was sound in his Imperialism as wo may recall in the gift of that liselul adjunct to the British Navy, the gift battle.,hip New Zealand, which was in every tight in the Great War. Sir

Joseph was a much maligned man before the war. and the gift ship was used as one of the lc.vors to discredit him and oust him I'rein ofliie. Just now he. is on the horizon the figure New Zealand would welc one hack to the leadership, hut if is feared his health will not permit of it. At present there are able lieutenants in Parliament, men of energy and experience capable of leading the party, and the critics who arc showing some concern about the matter need not bo fearful of the fate of the Liberals. Like Rienkie of old. they must “come again,” because the country needs them, and what a country needs it gets in good time by the voice of the people.