ELECTION DECISION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 54, 26 October 1931, Page 2

ELECTION DECISION

The decision of the leaders of the Coalition Government to go to the coijjntry at the usual time instead of prolonging the life of the present Parliament l:as been welcomed with relief by the country. It is only necessary to recall the amazing series : of events of major political importance which has marked the life of the present Parliament to appreciate the reasons which ! have made its prolongation highly undesirable. After the last J elections. Mr. Coates's Reform Government, though still the strongest party in the liouse, was so reduced in numbers that it was turned out with the help of Labour by the ne^v United Party under the veteran Sir Joseph Ward, a minority Government thus coming into power. The United Party had achieved its success on a definite policy, the central feature of which wTas its leader's famous £70,000,000 loan proposal. Economic developments affecting the whole world, however, quickly made it impossible for the Government to fulfil its leader's promises, which perhaps was fortunate, the burden of the existing public debt being one of the chief factors in the Doniinion's present j difficulties. Then came the breakdown in Sir Joseph Ward's health, culminating in his retirement and death. This placed the leadership of the Government in the hands of Mr. Forbes, a man as different from his late chief in outlook, training and character as it is possible to concieve. The result was that not only was the whole policy of the Government changed, but also its outlook and the angle of its approach to the many grave questions with which it was called upon to deal was radically -altered. Where Sir Joseph was optimistic, enierprising and somewhat radical Mr. Forbes is inclined to be pessijnistic, cau- j tious and conservative and it v/as not long before Labour became restless and finally refused any further to support the Government. This forced the party in power to appeal for assistance to its predetessors, whom, incidentally, it had, in the first exuberance of its success, abused unrestrainedly. j What happened after that is so recent as to make re-capitulation unnecessary. The formation of the present Coalition Govern- j ment, which followed so closely upon the establishment of the National Government at Home as to make it impossible not to d.raw the inference that events in Great Britain decisively influenced the tread of affairs in New Zealand, was received by the country with a feeling in which relief and scepticism were curiously blended. There can be no doubt, however, that, had the new Government shown any real signs of possessing a really firm grip on the situation and the rank and file of the two parties demonstrated any genuine unity of purpose, the country would have given it unstinted support. Unfortunately, both grip and unity have been eonspicuously absent. Indecision, incomprehensible delays and an unfor'imate lack of frankness have marked the Government's short career, while inter-party jealousy and petty partisan bickering have characterised the attitude of the rank and file of both parties, though United members have been the chief offenders in this respect. In the circmustances, therefore, though the Government has followed the only wise course in deciding to go to the country, the wisdom of appealing as a Coalition is open to grave doubt. Had there been any indication during the past few weeks of a genuine desire and intention to sink party in a smgle-minded effort to serve the country, a joint appeal would have been justified, One of the chief objections to an extension of the life of the present Parliament, a pernicious proceduro at any time, has been based upon the mediocre calibre of its personnel. The proposal to appeal as a Coalition, therefore, so far as its details can at present be gathered, isopen to the grave objection that it amounts to a request to the counry to endorse, not only the present Government and its policy, bl4t also the personnel oi the present House so far as it is representative of either of- the parties to the Coalition. This many electors will find it extremely difficult to do. Some, indeed, will find it injpossible. In a time such as the present party unquestionably should' give way to country, but in many electorates it will be extremely difficult to convince the electors that the present member, no matter what his party affiliations, is the best man offering to represent them in the legislature. It is to be hoped, therefore, that -in working out the details of the plan of campaign the Gpalitiori leaders will make provision to enable the best men available to carry their banner, irrespective of whether he is at present in Parliament or not, -