RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3323, 30 October 1919, Page 5

RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.

A N ENGLISH VIEWPOINT.

SIR J. AT.T.EN’b‘ INFLUENCE.

-LONDON, Sept. 6.

Coxnnlcnfing on the announcement that Sir Joseph Ward had resigned from the Coalition Cabinef, the London Times says, inter aliaz

“Po-liticlal leaders are human, and perhaps it would not bee -too much to say that Mr@Vl»assey and Sir Joseph War-d contrived betsween them to give the impression that the life they led as colleagues, in the same Cabinet, was something of a c«a.t-and-dog life. It would be very unjust ‘to let this discount appreciation of the real sacrifices which both made for’ the good of the Dominion and the advantage of the Empire; but their rather strained relations were bound to have an eifeet, and that -effect is not likely to be lessened by the haste that they have made to dissolve partnership. “It will be very interesting to watch political events in New Zealand during the next few months. The same forces are working there asin other Dominions, and in this country. It is rather the fashion there, as in other parts of the« Empire just now, to sneer alt. poli\l'Lie.:ll‘ qideas, ,'.3onv!‘en7tio-ns, and divisions. There has been vn. -good deal of such criticism in New Zealand, where the two leaders of the National Party were not singular in living rather a difiicult life together as members, of one party; but it remains to beiseen how deeply this feeling really goes, and whether,- when the elections come on, most of the .elee‘tel-ates will not swing back to their old allegiance, whatever its political hearing. The very artificiality of ca Coalition, the strain that compels, yet continually tries it, the sense of irksome restraint which it in-\-'olVeS—v—these may easily have the I'e—sult in New Zealand, and not there only, of reviving the old parties in quite unexpected streng-th. ‘ ’ A “This speculation will soon be tested in New Zea.l~a..nd, where, it should not be forgotten, the weakness of the National Government has seemed to stimulate the growth of Labour as a political force. More than‘ one-recent. byelection has gone strongly in t‘-avour of the Labour Parity, but it would be rash to assume on that account that Labour will »greatly increase its 'representa«‘ tion in the new Parliament. In New Zealaml. as in other parts of the Empire, Labour as a political force has to contend with an ex=trcmist element Witllin its ranks which dishelieves in political action and is always working against the Labour leaders who believe in it. 1 '

“.Thel*-e have been signs of re‘:-mition against Hlis exrtremist element lately, but it is by no means (zermin that this will go in fefvour of the -3onstitutional T.a.boul"Party at the olecfions; and the recent manifesto -0-‘r’ the La‘c~oul' Party ‘Conference, condcnming the Peace 'l‘roaty in immoderatc language, is likoly to have ‘ifs »e-ffect :1? fhe polls, Mo;-oovm', the Reform Party have in Riv .T}l.nws Allen, ‘the Mixlister for Defence, 3 man Whose qualities and pro. misc even his opponents admit; and the influence of such a personality at an election like that which is coming in New Zealand is never easy to es?-imate in advance.” _