WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THIRTY YEARS AGO.

POLITICAL DECADENCE.

(From a Correspondent)

AVELLINGTON, June 22,

In the course of a casual interview the other day an active politician of thirty odd years ago, reviewing the New Zealand Parliaments of the last three decades, after several v.gits to the Mother Country, expressed but a poor opinion of the rank and file of the Dominion’s House of Representatives of the present time. His memory of active politics goes back as far a« tne Hull Ministry of 1819-82, when Sir John Hall had the support of such robust colleagues as Sir Harry Atkinson and the Hon. William Rol'esteii who stood by him in exti bating the country from the gravest financial difficulties it ever had encountered up to that time. Worn out in health by incessant work and worry, Si’ John handed over the leadership to Sir Frederick Whitaker, Sir Harry Atkinson and Air Kollesti n taking up the main share of Sir John’s burden, and so the position remained in effect until the advent of the StoutVogel Government in 1884. THE NEW ERA. The Stuut-Vogel Ministry ran its full course#from September to October 1887, our authority reminded ug, but Sir Robert Stout was defeated at the succeeding general election being ousted bv Sir James Allan, then

do mt..nt, in the contest for the Dunedin East seat, and remaining out t Parliament until 1890. Then Sir Hebert in:.weeded to the vacant InangaIma scat, to pass on to a Wellington constituency in due course, and fin ally to tiie Chief Justiceship, than! i to the diplomacy of Mr Deddon. h was to Mr John Ballance, the foundeof a definite Liberal Party in thi country, that active politicians of forty odd years ago begun to give their confidence. Associated with Mr Sed don, Sir John McKenzie, Sir Josepl Ward and Mr W. Peniber Reeves the liberal pioneer with wide vision and fruitful experience of his own. had an opportunity that had fallen tr few of his predecessors and withir two years he accomplished more than any of them had attempted. ONE MAN GOVERNMENT. During his term of office as Print. Minister, in succession to Mr Ballance Air Seddon held no fewer than thirteen portfolios, and looked enreiulL after the portiolios of his colleagues, not forgetting that the main res,.on sihility lay oil lug shoulders. V> lie' Sir Joseph AVard succeeded to tli leadership he loaded himself wit. eight portfolios and was content, while Air Alagsey, when bis turn came ,vas satisfied with four. From tliesi fact tiie politicians of thirty ' year ago argues that the Massey Govern rnent was much hotter o.gmised it this respect than were its predecessor: or any of its successors. Ibis may b> readily admitted. It should not 9> •very difficult for -any Liberal or Labour elector to concede that the Alar s y Ministry of 1912-15, apart Iroin prejudice, was the strongest ii everything of consequence that lias oc copied the Treasury Reaches of tin New Zealand Parliament. The name: of Massey, Bell, Allen Herries, Eras or, Herthnan, Rhodes, ami Roma:clench the matter so far ns our anti ority is concerned.

WHAT NEXT? As for the rest, this seething criti finds fault in caustic terms witl every Government that lias administer ed the affairs of the country sinc< the dissolution of the National Min istry on the conclusion of the Grea War. The election which followed ii 1919 showed the Government, so thi: authority says, short of a majority cl the, votes polled by some 120,600, am yet Mr Massey and his remainin' colleagues, through no fault of tlieii own, were able to scatter the battalions of the other three parties to tin winds. The operation was repeated :nlv a little bus flagraiity. in 192 and then . with the passing of M Massey, a weary public turned t, the youth of Reform and for another three years Mr Coates basked in the sunshine of inheritance. Then came [lie debacle of 1928, with the dissuin' don of tlie old brigade and the temoorary revival of a still older one tc make the politics of the.. Dominion more confused than ever. Thus i veteran of thirty years ago from his own observations.