The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1920. HOPELESS APPEAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3448, 30 March 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1920. HOPELESS APPEAL.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.” '

While Britain is seriously threatened with a stoppage of coalmining and} railwaymen are discussing strikes, the political element; appears to be paramount. The fight for political powcrl is of immeasurably greater importancel than the profiteering curse that is sap- , ping the last vein of patriotism out of 1 the masses of the people. Whichever; way one looks and investigates it is} found that nationalism is fast losingi ground to intcrnationalism. Parasites‘ on people are, by their ruthlessnessfl destroying that race-love inherent. int peoples whereby those of a ‘national-i ity are bound together in comment brotherhood. Man to-day asks, “Who, is my neighbour,” and he looks in‘ vain to the priests, levites, govern-4 ment, and people of ‘his own land, of‘; his own race. His neighbour is found: to be a. citizen of Va far~otf land, m% which human sympathy is not alto-4, gether corrupted or dead. While the| people of Britain are pressed down] under unprecedented, burdens, the two political leaders of Liberalism are en-l gaged in a regrettable, unseemly‘ squabble about which should occupy the highest seat Liberalism has to offer. Liberalism is being discredited by its chiefs, who seem to care nothing for disrupting divisions they ‘are creating, the only concern visible is for personal supremacy in party politics. There are not wanting signs arising out of the 1 political tumult that parties in Britain are sw-irzning and that. there are strong indications" that when settled only two queens will be mainly adhered to. Politics seem to be in a transition state, moving towards the elimination of the old conservatism, and a fusion of some Libcnals with Conservatives, and other Liberals with Labour. While the nation is faced with the most. alarming labour catastrophe, .\lr Lloyd George and the recently resurrected Mr Asquith are wrangling, calling Lurch other names, dcriding each of‘-ler’s' abilities and intentions, creating a sorry spectacle for the great free aid independent. to lament. over and scorn. What that catastrophe is Mr Lloyd George clearly defines, he states that the supreme struggle is to -mil the capitalist and create a co-o;>e=.':x:ive commonwealth. Before victory for such a commonwealth is snatched, he urges the nation to fully 1‘C!1llS(! its meaning, and then choose deliberately with open eyes. His appeal has a ring ‘of hopelessness; he cannot: arouse the nation to a sense of realisation of the revolution that is at the door; men * will not look up from their gr-ovclling for millions to heed what he says about the enemy that is ready and may strike at any moment. A geneml election in Britain is probable, if not imminent, and who can say what hangs upon that election for the future? The old Conservative Party is past. hopeful resurrection; the Irish question has broken up Conservatism and Liberalism; Liberal leaders seem to be bent in permanently splitting up into impotent. sections the old historic party. and only ‘the Labour Party, with its internal minor differences, is left sufiiciently solid to record a potent party vote." This is What’ Lloyd George refers to when he sfittes that a victory may be 'sna'tiche<l that will wipe out the capitalist in trade and establish a co-operative commonwealth. Does not all that is taking place in Britain apply efiunlly to New

Zeatland? Capitalism thinks it has done all that is required of it by putting in power a Conservative Governngent; Capitalism does not realise that Labour did very nearly as much towards ‘putting tyhat Government in power as it: did. It is probably beneath its dignity to do so, and it will not thank us for reminding it that the same Labour is equally gifted in the destruction of Conservatism -as it was in the destruction of Liberalism. Let us repeat Lloyd George ’s Words to the party of greed and extortion in New Zealand: “Society should not take any chances in these revolutionary days; the Labour Party’s programme is to end the capitalist and create a co-opera-tive commonwealth; before Labour snatches victory let the nation realise the meaning of Labour’s programme, and then choose deliberately with its eyes-open.” Will the nation realise what is happening in these revolutionary days, even though ten thousand Lloyd. Georges shouted out an appeal?