UNITED PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1928, Page 4

UNITED PARTY

(Lyttelton Trines)

The acceptance of tho leadership of the United Party 'was an event more significant than the casual observer might suppose, for it definitely declared that tho doctrines of Liberalism were to be tho basis of the party’s policy. The offer of the position might in itself have been nothing more than a compliment to a distinguished statesman, but if it bad been only that we may bo sure that Sir Joseph would have contented himself with a few words of thanks and would have declined it. He has been all his life a Liberal, and, as he said three years ago, lie knows no other political creed. It follows, therefore, that tho policy of the United Party must conform to his conception of the functions and the obligations of political party, that its programme must have a very definite intention, and that each and every sectional interest that may be represented has undertaken to sink its special ambitions and desires in order to promote the welfare of all sections of the people. Liberalism is not a creed that perishes. Liberalism and Conservatism, by whatever names they may be called, are the two permanent elements in politics. In a wellgovorned State they run side by side, scarcely distinguishable from one another, because while Conservatism aims at the maintenance of existing institutions and existing social and economic conditions, Liberalism conies into play only when it is necessary to 'readjust Conditions, to restore the rights or to curtail the excessive privileges of sections of the people. No student of current politics can doubt that a time has come when Liberalism must again lie active in the State, Throe years ago the whole nation was glad to give the young anu attractive leader of the Reformers the opportunity of redeeming his promise to deal rightly by them. He has failed, doubtless because of a too ready acceptance of the advice of unwise friends, and the movement that has culminated in the organisation of the United Party is simply as we showed yesterday, an expression of popular dissatisfaction.

The nomination of Sir Joseph Ward ns leader of the party emphasises this fact. No doubt the party desired the benefit of the experience, knowledge, and ability of the old Liberal leader, but there was another important consideration. In a politial career extending over forty years Sir Joseph Ward has never identified himself with any sectional interest of movement. His guiding principle has always been the good of the whole people. This war, the keynote of the speech in which he accepted the leadership of the United Party, and it explains why his acceptance has a special significance in the present state of politics in New Zealand.