The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1930 LABOUR FLAILS THE GOVERNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 10

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1930 LABOUR FLAILS THE GOVERNMENT

LABOUR is as far removed in policy and sympathy from the United Government as an Eskimo is from the last of the Morioris. The party, after its caucus at Wellington yesterday, says so emphatically in political terms, and makes it clear that the Ward Administration, in the opinion of its friend the Labour enemy, has no merit at all and no record of meritorious service. That conclusion may seem incongruous, if not ironic, for the Labour Party in Parliament, more than anybody or anything else, has been responsible for keeping the Government in administrative power, though not in satisfactory achievement. On all the vital questions in national polities the Labour Party finds itself at variance with the policy and administration of the present Government. Of course, this variance differs in degree. It is admitted to be most marked and extensive in respect of the trouble in Western Samoa. Indeed, Labour is opposed so vigorously and apparently so irreconcilably to the Government's administration of the mandated territory that the party urges an immediate resumption of Parliament to deal with the Dominion’s worst problem, which has become as notorious as it is vexatious. Unqualified support could he given to Labour’s imperative plea for Parliamentary consideration of the intolerable situation in Samoa, if there were any guarantee that an effective remedy would be devised. No such guarantee is in prospect. It is true that many people anticipate the defeat of the Government on the Samoan question, but they have not disclosed solid ground or valid reasons for their anticipation. Obviously the Labour Party does not expect to force an ’ abrupt dismissal of the Government because of its unsatisfactory administration of the Samoa mandate and its practice of extraordinarily coercive measures. It might even he said fairly that the party has provided in its protest almost an armour-plated safeguard for the United Ministry. No doubt Labour’s condemnation of the Administration is impressive enough, as also is the party’s repudiation of coercion and the grievous consequences which will not be forgotten and probably will not he

forgiven for a generation at least, but censure of the United Government has been applied equally to its predecessor. Thus: “The Labour Party repudiates and wholly dissociates itself from the present, Government’s continuation of the Reform Government’s coercive policy in relation to Western Samoa.” In that decision of the Labour caucus there is perfect safety guaranteed to and for the Ward Ministry on a crucial test division. It only has to asser.t blandly that the political control of Samoa today is no different in intention and purpose from what it was under the Reform regime, and any hostile motion on the question from the Labour benches in Parliament would he smothered on the instant. Since Labour is anything hut lacking in political intelligence, it is probable that the eaucus knew what it was doing when it bracketed the two rival Administrations for condemnation. So there is no prospect of the Government being

defeated b*y the Opposition parties as far as Samoa is concerned, though the Reform Party could just as easily and fairly dissociate itself from a policy involving the shooting of Samoans and “naval invasion of the territory.” Perhaps some good could be derived from an early session of Parliament for the purpose of discussing and devising better means for reconciling the discontented natives of Samoa to firm control on the principle of uplifting them toward the level of civilisation and Christianity so-called, but there does not appear to he any likelihood of a special call to legislators. It is regrettably clear that the Prime Minister’s health is not yet robust enough to enable him to lead Parliament in a hurly-burly of party strife. But the Government, during the remainder of the recess,, should note that a great number of New Zealanders, irrespective of political bias or partisan politics, is with the Labour Party in urging a policy of conciliation in Western Samoa instead of harsh coercion. Although it is not customary for political parties to issue a general manifesto from a pre-sessional caucus, the Labour Party has taken full advantage of an ojaportunity to explain how it would make an end to New Zealand’s industrial and economic troubles, and provide happiness for everybody, except those who would have to suffer heavier taxation. As manifestoes go, this latest one from Labour represents excellent political windowdressing. But the goods displayed have not been ticketed with their prices. Without specific details of expenditure and the sources of revenue for meeting the cost of great political enterprises, the manifesto, as a declaration of policy, is merely an imposing array of words.