THE ELECTIONS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 97, 24 December 1914, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

AND THE WAY OUT

“Elector” writes to the “Dominion” as follows: “The political situation is causing, and very naturally so, considerable anxiety at present. Various solutions of the difficulty have been and are still being offered. The latest is a coalition, portfolios to be allotted in Ministerial and Opposition parties, with an honorary position in the Cabinet to cue of the representatives of Labour. It is to be hoped this idea wili not he given effect to, not merely because of the ignoble suggestion that a division of the “loaves and fishes” .mist be made, before the people’s representatives will consider the paramount subject of duty, bur fpr the

very important reason that representation of Labour. soc.alled, would inevitably mean handing over the destinies of the country to a faction openly cut against law and order. For bearing in mind what occurred here a year ago, and may happen again, can anyone suppose that unanimity could be secured in a Cabinet so constructed mi a question such as the suppression of an outbreak of lawlessness rum bar to that with which W 3 were on that occasion confronted, and which the few irreconcilables who dominate* the manual workers would bring about again when the opportunity favoured them? Have we not already evidence that the existing unsatisfactory situation resulting from the general elections is encouraging labour revolts? There is the Ullhnaroa incident, for example. And what cro we notice across the Tasman Sea as to the extent to which class demands will go, regardless of the great national interests now at stake? Open revolt against an award by one of the ablest .most painstaking, just and outspoken Judges who has ever presided over an industrial tribunal. Let there be no mistake about it, we have arrived at a most critical period, and it is to be devoutly hoped that our public men will rise to the occasion. Sir Joseph Ward, the “Indiarubber Premier,” as he lias been designated by a'former supporter, prompted by, I am afraid, an inordinate vanity, is feverishly anxious to secure the veins of power. The-poor man is so often proclaimed by his slavish admirers “The Saviour of the Country,” or, a s Mr R. Fletcher put it the other day, “The only statesman in the Dominion,’ ’that he may be excused if he has come to bolide it. Poor broken reed for the. country to lean on! Tomorrow h to meet his foLoweiS, and T shrub! Tim be a bit surprised to hear idi" drums beating, and to leain that the henchmen are already pre-par- | jug the inevitable banquet, at v/hiVn 1 the genius and the greatness of this j statesman will be duly arid loudly pro- j claimed.

The position as between the Government and the Opposition proper i? ’this: The former has a following of 140, as against 33. That being so, what |on earth can Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., I M.P., P.C., K.C.M.G., D.C.L., L.L.D-, to ; demand that the Government should 'make way for him? Of course he exI peers the support cf the faction, and he would undoubtedly get it to oust Mr Massey, but after that, what? The tail would wag the dog. To prevent such a catastrophe as that we only want a few moderate men on the OppoI sition side of the House to put duty before every other consideration, and without being untrue to conviction or party, make it clear that in this great crisis with which our country is faced, and until it is over, they are to reinforce the party that came back numerically stronger than their own, but not , sufficiently powerful to govern alone, and so prevent the humiliating spectacle that would be presented by a wrangle for place and power at such a juncture. Are there any noble and patriotic enough to ta}te up this attitude, I believe there are and when they step to the front regardless of the taunts and abuse that may be hurled against them by office-seekers they will secure the deepest respect and lasting gratitude of,the community.”