The Taihape Daily Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1914. THE POLITICAL PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 92, 18 December 1914, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1914. THE POLITICAL PROBLEM.

AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE (With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post o.oa "Waimarino News.)

The result of the elections seems to have created a contretemp unique in the history of New Zealand politics. It is barely safe, even at this late hour, to take for granted that either party has a lead by so much as one vote; the constituencies seem to have adjusted party equilibrium so finely and so nicely as to render it quite impossible for either side to form anything approaching a stable government. What with sailors' permits, absentee permits and expeditionary force votes, the polling has been of an unprecedented character; and they were indeed bold men who risked the acceptance of finality until such a large number of outstanding votes had been accounted for. Leaders and newspapers must now realise the ridiculous positions they placed themselves in by their extreme comfortable assurance. There are two old sayings that might have been pondered over with profit; one is about counting chickens and the other is about the cup and the lip; the truth of both of which have again, most tantalisingly been verified. The elements of uncertainty still loom too largely to admit of anything like a correct statement of party strength, in Duncdin Central a magisterial recount has been asked for by Mr. Statham, and, as Mr. Munro's majority was only nine votes, the magistrate does not need to discover many mistakes to re vers 3 matters. In Hawke's Bay there,seems to have been a good deal of unnecessary, and unaccountable blundering by returning officers; and until the recount is completed and the result officially announce;!, 't ■.« altogether imj&JPc to take anything for granted in that direction. Whether the present status quo is maintained in these two electorates or not, the situation becomes no less complicated, for New Zealand's political destiny for the next three years seems to be presided over by a Maori arbiter. Mr. Tau Hen are has all along been ticked off as a Reform*er, and now lie himself states that, he will support the Liberals. If he elects to support Reform he makes parties equal, so that when either side elects a Speaker it at once becomes in a minority of one. If he throws his vote in "with Liberalism, Sir Joseph Ward would have a majority of one after the Speaker's. chair was filled, but as so slight a preponderance would be altogether unworkable, we again seem to be confronted with a reconsultation of the constituencies. If, when all returns are completed and officially announced, Mr. Massey does find himself in a minority, he will no doubt follow the simple constitutional course by calling Parliament together and standing the brunt of a no-confidencc mc j tion, or he and his ministry v. " resign. Should neither party I. command a working . majority, 1 then the usual procedure is an an-1

verdict, unless, of course, some coalition of parties can be effected, having a following strong enough to ensure ability to carry on the business. The coalition idea has already been put forward by more than one strong: party newspaper, and some journals have asserted that it is the dutyof the leaders to save us, by hook or by crook, from another general election. They say the leaders should meet and form some honourable working agreement. It sounds very pretty, but will our imaginations permit us to picture Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward meeting with a possible view of attempting to coerce any part of their following to support the other side? Mr. Massey would either have to coalesce, with the Liberals he has up to the. last minute so bitterly anathematised, or take to his bosom the contingent of Eed Feds.; both propositions seem Jo be so pi'actically impossible that appeal to the electorates appears to be the only solution of this pesky political problem.