The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27. THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 27 January 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27. THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

Any local disappointment that may have been felt at the Prime Minister's inability to accompany His Excellency the Governor to New Plymouth will disappear on the rellection that their missions are distinct. The Governor made official acquaintance with the town, and managed to impress the people with his geniality, tactfulness and general amiability. The Prime -Minister knows New Plymouth, and his mission is political. He will expound the faith that is in him, I show cause for the existence of the [Government, defend it from the aspersions that have been east on it and himself, and give reasons, perhaps, why Taranaki should muster to the Liberal flag. 'Political warfare of the kind practised in most modern countries is a series of attacks and counter-strokes, in which the opposing forces assume that a kind of civil war exists. Presumably the party which Mr. Massey leads is working for the same object as the party led by the Prime Minister—the good of all the people of this Dominion. In order to bring about a common end, therefore, it is necessary for both parties to assert, with all necessary vigor, that nothing the other side docs is for the benefit of the people. On the one side, it is shown that the dominance of the present Government for a long series of years has been extremely bad for us. On the other side, it can be shown, with equal conclusion, that the Opposition is a menace to every kind of progress. So that most political speeches delivered by the fighters of either party are excuses for existence or protests against the existence of the political enemy. To depose the Government is, under modern rules of the political game, the goal of the Opposition. To,, show cause why they should not be deposed is the chief present business of the Government. Every political speech is made by counsel for party to a jury of the people. It is a presumption and an insult that all units of one political party think alike, and that even if they do not they are almost bound to say they do when it is necessary to vote, but common sense tells everybody that there must lie as great diversity in a congregation of -Ministers of the Crown as in a congregation of eoal-hcavers or business men. Party polities is, in effect, a system of coercion of ideas. And, of course, party politics is the most alluring brand, for most men dearly love a fight, and society cannot get along without warfare of one kind or another. The Premier must presume, when he addresses any body of electors, that his government is not understood, and that he is on the platform to explain away misconceptions. He must, according to precedent, remind the people of what the Government has done for them in the past decade or more. He must presume the forgctfulness of the people, who may imagine that the Opposition has in the past done all the work by opposing the Government. He must, in fact, show that people who elect Opposition members fight against their own interests, and must save them from themselves, so to speak. A Prime Minister and his Party, as soon as the last session of a Parliament has ended, know that another gamble for place has again begun. The sun shines, and the grass grows, and the people go about the work of the country whether Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey is Prime Minister, but for long enough they lthve shown no disposition to change a Government that lias given tlicm fair value for their money. Mo argument, either of mouth or pen, can convince people that work to be done is as good as work that has been accomplished. The people regard the palpable achievements of the existing Government as evidence of its ability to undertake the great work which represents its duty. Destructive criticism of the work accomplished by the Scddon or Ward Governments does not undo the work, but it is an assumption that the critics would have given better value. This can be proved, not by reviving the past, but by constructive work in _lhe future. It goes without saying that the Premier will receive a warm welcome to New Plymouth and be given an attentive hearing at his meeting. It is rather unfortunate that Sir Joseph cannot make a longer stay and view the many points of interest in the town. We trust he may have the opportunity of doing so at a later period.