WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, 20 March 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ANOTHER NEW PARTY.

THE WELFARE LEAGUE.

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON March 19.

The New Zlaeand Welfare League,, which announced itself to the world at large last week kas another saviour of this politically distraught country from the wicked machinations of the Bolsuieviks, at least has succeeded in arousing a good deal of curiosity concerning its "constitution and purpose. The statement of its "principles" and "objects" is sadly unsatisfying. "Stable government.'' "some progress," "legitimate rights," "moderate opinion," "constructive ability," 'and a score of stock phrases of the same kind appear here as they have appeared in every other manifesto of the same character since the very beginning of controversial politics. But Mr C. P. Skcrrett 's acceptance of the presidency of the league must mean that this new organisation is taking itself seriously and wishes to be taken seriously by the public. ITS SPONSOR.

The eminent King's Counsel more than once has been approached by leaders of the Liberal Party -with a view to inducing him to enter Parliament. Long ago hi) might have been a legislative councillor had his inclination or his ambition lain that way. So recently as the Wellington North byelection last year he was mentioned as a candidate likely to be acceptable to both sides. But while taking a keen interest in the public life of the Dominion, he steadfastly declined to be drawn into the arena himself. Mayb-? he hesitated to commit himself, to the endorsement of u party in whose counsels he had no place. That would be the way of the man with the judicial mind. But now lie has found a party with a clean slate on which hie may hope to write much that may shape its course -and determine itsjpl fortune.

THE APPROACHING DISSOLUTION Eut whether the Welfare League is destined to play an important part in moulding the political destiny of the country or not. it seems tolerably certain that the National Government is rapidly approaching its dissolution. Even the '"Post," which was the last of the local newspapers to discover the widespread revolt against the political expediencies of the war, is now telling its readers that the Coalition "is ncaring the end of its term" and that "a general election will be upon us before the iond of the year." A 3 a matter of fact alio party truce will automatically terminate on the signing of the treaty of peace, and its spirit will survive only so long as the party leaders are away from the country. Then the old warfare will be resumed, with much of its bitterness gone, but with no less earnestness than before. THE PARTIES. People who talk of all the differences, between the Reformers and the Liberals having disappeared under the beneficent influences of the "truce" and of the two old parties joining forces in opposition to Labour have strongly misread the signs of the times. Nothing would please the extreme section of Labour better than a development of this kind; but happily there is little probability of it coming about. The personal relations between the old parties have vastly improved during the iast four years, but their honest political convictions are. as far apart as ever they wiere. Neither one party nor the lother is o-oing to allow fear of a mere handful of noisy irresponsibles to inflict another Parliament raf silence and impotence upon the country at a time when it needs more than ever before srne and courageous service.