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Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1928, Page 4

It is very interesting to note the unanimity with which the Dominion newspapers recognise the definite revival in I'bond ism as. a result of the late elections. As one of the North Island on pars nuts it “liberalism lias come into its own again.” This is a result which has been predicted in these columns over and over again. In that continued opiniin we have felt always 'hat the moderate progressive policy if old which did so much to lift New Zealand out of the slough of despond, mi a former occasion, and which placed hi the statute book so many measures ■if value to the people and the coun-try-daws which their successors have never repealed—that satisfying policy must he reverted to where the makci. . policy which showed signs of weakness all along was proved a failure The two outstanding features of the Liberal policy of old the main foundations of its success, were the financial am l land policies. On these the superstructure of the general policy and prosperity were reared. Conversely those wore the two special planks in the Reform administration which were a failure. It was all very well to complain that the war aftermath dislocated finance. It was not dislocated during the heavy drain of the war while Mr Joseph Ward was Minister of Finance and during which he accumulated a huge reserve in London which his successors soon frittered away. And as regards a land policy we know it was of a negative character and has now cost an otherwise capable Minister Ins sent. Mr McLeod was a Conservative of the old school, and like bis compatriots of other days, did not appreciate the land legislation of the Liberals. He had no sympathy with its objective. anil he neglected it, and failed to produce a substitute. It will he for his successor to the charge of the port folio of Lands to turn.hack the pages of the statute book and again revive the machinery of the Liberal land legis lation to active success, where for the time being there has been stagnation. Sir .Joseph Ward has said boldly and hopefully that the affairs of tho country will be safe in the bands of the rnitoil Party. That party lias a definite progressive policy based on lines w .ich proved successful in years gone by. It was' an invigorating policy, which as the veteran Sir Joseph put it the other day at Dunedin, “would infuse more hope, more vigour, and more spirit into the people, and at the same time provide employment for many men who were in need of it.” Tt seems a thousand pities that at such a juncturs ti.c electors did not accept the advice of tris paper and see that Westland had an effective place in the development of the policy, and assist directly to bring to our district and New Zealand the elements which would advance the country so greatly.