WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, 4 October 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PARTY FIG HT.

l\’l"l‘w.»‘\/‘SPA PER PROTESTS.

“WELLINGTON, Oct_ 3.

The "‘Post"’ and the “Dominion” still are wedded to the idea. that the only cure for the social. industrial and political ills that afflict the country ‘lies in the restoration of the National Cab« inet Last evening the “Post,” taking as its text a phrase with which Mr Downie Stewart garnished his speech in the financial debateito the effect: that a. “sham fight” ‘was going in between the parties, declared that if the Liberals had to make their decision to-day the minority which opposed the renunciation of the truce would be much more insistent in its opposition and the majority which favoured the resumption of party warfare much less eager to take up the old weapons of offence “On the fundamental issues of the incidence of taxation,” the even ing journal says, “the two parties appear to be substantially in agreement, and on other great issues there is no natural dividing line between them.«.’ Therefore, of course, the National Cabiret should be restored. _ NO ‘PARTY ISSUE.

The “Dominion” this morning «strikes a similar. note, though with rather more inclination to cast all the blame for what has happened upon the leader of the Opposition. ,‘‘There is no important policy question on which the two parties are definitely at issue,” it says; “Even the nationalisation of the coal mines is not an exception. It is true that Sir Joseph Ward is com-' mittetl to nationalisation, and that the Government. is not "But. the Liberal lender meantimei seems to be trimming on this question In his policy inani_f€sto he declared that the-whole of the ‘coal mines in New-Zealand should be nationalised.‘ Speaking in the fin: ancial debate, he advocated the nationalisation of the mines Worth pur-chaéiinew-v~-Emn,~rh.owem',..it.Sir..£[oseptl= Ward and his whole party declared udn~ reservedly for .na.tionalisati_on, it _d_o,_e_s_ not necessarily £ol_low_ that a party issue V\7oil_l’tlVbe raised." “In‘this":case'~«/a rencwalof the _coalition is the only sensible course; to follow. ‘ ’ THE LEADERS’ ATTITUDE.‘ The part; lieaders naturally are m7"e reticent. ..han the nenfspape 2 in discussing‘ this qrestion . ‘Mr Massey feels he cann-ot urge the Leader of the Opposition to rc-enter the fold, and Sir Joseph Ward, with still more reason cannot bc-seech the Prime Minister for admission. That the door is ajar noth seem to recognise. But Sir Joseph smiles at the suggestion‘ that there is no difi'erence between -the policies of the two parties. The Prime Minister and his friends may believe this is the case, but so for Sir Joseph has had no oppoizunity to judge. He has published his own policy to the world but apparent»ly the policy of his opponents is still in the making. It is to to be announced in proposals ‘that have not yet been submitted to the House. If these proposals are in accordance with his own. views, he will be delighted, and they will encounter no f.act‘ious opposition from him. d Tl-IE RANK AND FILE.

V .The rank and file of the _Refio=rni Party, and. speaking generally, it may be assumed they would. consent. t'o:}any course that might be decided upon by their leaders. But a large majority of ‘Sir Joseph Ward’s supporters would not look with favour upon a. return to the old conditions. They argue that the party truce made for stagnation, that the necessity of avoiding all controversial questions left them impatient to move along progressive lines, and that the country is looking to the new Parliament to repair the omissions in this respect that Inatrke(] the trail of the National Cabinet during the five years of wax; Altogether the chances of the “Post.” and “Dominion” persuading the lion and the lamb to lie down tc:gr.-tllel- in amity again seems at the moment to be extremely remote.