POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2506, 14 November 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL.

THE PARTIES AND THE ISSUES,

Against what is picturesquely termed “Masseydom,” which wiser people nowadays regard as “just two other parties are appealing for support and it is noticeable that they are using much the same tactics in advocating a change of Government. Abuse and misrepresentation of facts are their chief weapons. In Parliament they, generally speaking, have voted together and played into one another’s hands, although both parties profess to scorn each other. The Hollandites speak contemptuously of the Wilfordites, and the latter disclaim all connection with the former, and all desire to associate with them in the government of the country. Yet the leader of the Liberal remnant has cast longing eyes upon the Labour Corner and, in Parliament itself, has expressed the hope that an understanding may yet be come to between his party and that led by Mr Holland to oust the present Government from office. Stable government is the prime necessity of the Dominion to-day. We cannot afford, in the present state of the country’s affairs, to play fast and loose with either its finances or its legislation. “Safety first” should be the motto of every elector, and if he or she looks even cursorily into the position the concluson is irresistibly forced home that the Wilfordite Liberals cannot reasonably expect to obtain anything like the accession to their numbers that would enable them to take up the reins of government, without the assistance of the “Red Fed” elements of Labour which they affect to despise and distrust to such an extent that at least one member—Mr L. M. Isitt —has pledged himself definitely to vote against his own party on a no-confidence motion, unless it has a clear majority over all other parties in the House. Having come to New Zealand for

a holiday, the former Premier of the Labour Government in New South Wales has apparently been unable to resist the fascination of the election campaign and has already appeared on local platforms. Hi- attitude is no doubt that of' the observer, anxious to study ourp olitieal condition at close quarters and so long as he does not accept the Labour candidates as the sole exponents of truth and wisdom, the experience should be both useful and entertaining. Since lie is here, perhaps Mr Dooley will repay the hospitality that has been shown him by giving (lie country the benefit of his own knowledge and experiences. For instance, lie has already publicly declared his conviction that, for a scattered population, proportional representation is a failure, and lie justifies his opinion by facts and figures. Surely he will not sit silent on Labour platforms while Labour candidates proclaim that proportional representation is the sovereign remedy for all the evils of' the times! —“Mercutio” in Auckland Herald. ! Political entertainment was ngain the feature of the continuation of Mr Vivian 11. Potter’s campaign , for his return to Parliament as Reform member for Roskill (says the Auckland “Herald”). The crowd was greater than the accommodation. It was manifestly his intention to discuss only the politics of the Dominion, but persistent interrogators led him into by-paths. The candidate was in no way disconcerted, and played lively cricket, 'ceiling heavily. “Why,” cried an obdurate interrogator, “you can’t get land under CTO an acre.” “The trouble of the agitator,” retorted Mr Potter, “is that he and his kind want a sheep station in Queen Street, tint they are not prepared to go out into the haekhlocks where flier is plenty of hind, si mi bend their backs like the pioneer fanners.” (Applause.) A little later the candidate stung the Labour supporters into protest

against a vigorous condemnation of Extreme Labour. “Tt is all right.” said Mr Potter, “the man who works least is the man who talks most and he is the Extreme Labour agitator/' (Applause. ) “What a limit proportional representation?" cried mi interjector. “There is no man in New Zealand to-day,” said Mr Potter, “who can explain proportional representation. T know L'll different kinds: which one do you want ? An expert came out from England to explain it to Mr Massey, and after two hours the expert was in a tangle and the Prime Minister in a fog. And there It all is to-day." (Applause.) In view of the approaching eleclions 1 feel need hardly do more than enjoin upon my fellow citizens the necessity of standing solidly together in defence of the liberties of which the Bolsheviks, the T.W.W.’s and Revolutionary Socialists would deprive us if they had the opportunity. I know people of that stamp are out against the Government. Speaking on its behalf, I ~ay emphatically we neither want their support, nor would we remain in office it single day were we dependent upon them. But, speaking for myself' and also for those who have so loyally and faithfully worked with us, during the ten strenuous years which have elapsed since I was first entrusted with the leadership of the people, 1 say that we do want the support of all patriotical-ly-minded and right-thinking citizens, whether their incomes are ten shillings per day or £IO,OOO per annum and 1 am quite satisfied to leave our political fortunes in their hands.—Mr Massey.