The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1931. A COMMONWEALTH PARTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1931. A COMMONWEALTH PARTY.

A few nights ago the. Labour members in the House o> Representatives, it is pointed out by a contemporary, engaged in the deliberate obstruction oi the business, were likened to Aen. fiddling while Home was in Humes. The simile was not inapt, but it might be applied with even greater force to the spectacle that has been witnessed in Australia for some moinlis past. Whi'o the depression has played havoc with tlic liuanees of. the Commonwealth and the States, and with the financial stability of commerce and industry, political parties in. the country have been conducting themselves in such a manner as might conceivably be suggestive of indifference- to the gray, national Isstic that has t,o be faced. As the Melbourne Age remarked recently, the tragedy is that Ausrulin, after reaching a disastrous financial position that is largely due to a dis- ! sipation of material resources, is now finding difficulty in getting out of that position because there is a dissipation of political-intellectual resources. In spite of the need for co-operation to meet a national emergency. Parliament continues to he divided into a number of eon-tending groups, The one promising indication that the p >l- - are becoming aware of tin* dosin' of the public lor a cessation of purely negative criticism appears to he <■■<- i-t-ained in the support that is being accorded to Mr Lyons in his attempt to form a new party. Air Lvms von public confidence when as a member of Air Seullin’s Cabinet ho stood up for retrenchment and financial refo"in. ami he exhibited his regarl for principle by resigning his office in protest against the recall of Air Theodore to a Alinisterinl position. ‘‘Mv mates and I have always been Labour men,” lie told a Afelbourue meeting a few days ago. “We have no party to-day. Conscience impelled ns to transfer our allegiance from the party eve had long served to the people of Australia.” The sincerity of Air Lyons is not open to question. That his first invitation to the loaders of iho political parties and the general public to sink their differences was recognised as genuine is shown by the response that met it. Air Bruce welcomed the. proposal. and promised to give ids assistance to Air Lvuns. mid many prominent, bankers and other leading Australians have expressed approval of the policy seems to .present a sane basis for a constructive programme aimed at restoring financial stability in the Commonwealth. It is directed towards the restoration of a balanced Budget by equality of sacrifice. Tt requires a concerted effort, inspired by a- national crisis, and headed by a leader of winning personality, to draw public opinion into one way of thinking. Air Lyons is not a superman, but he is approaching a body of electors which is almost in despair at the steady drift of the finances of the country and at the inability of the political parties, as at present constituted, to deal with it. Alany people in Australia are prepared to give their support not to a new party, formed by a handful of deserters from the established parties, but to a party that will be formed by tbe sinking of party opinions in favour of a common, practical ideal. It is such a party fusion that Air Lyons is striving to effect. The “All for Australia League,” which has also received support from people of varying shades of political opinion, is not at present prepared to work with Air Lyons. It prefers to create a separate political movement, but it is conceivable that this organisation may eventually accept- a broader. more statesmanlike scheme. In the meantime Air Lyons is undoubtedly gaining adherents to his cause, both from the public and from party political groups. The lively interest that is being taken in his campaign is evidenced in the fact that for an address that lie to deliver in Adelaide in a week’s time all seats in the gieat Exhibition Hall have already been booked, ‘‘as if,” as a Sydney paper comments somewhat drily, “lie were some world-famous entertainer.” Ibe conviction seems to have taken root in the minds of sane Australians that ,-reeds and resolutions will not lift their country out of her difficulties, and it must he accepted as a hopeful sign for the future of the Commonwealth that the need for’ unity of action is gaining wide recognition.