The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 16 December 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

As a good many predicted, the second ballots- have left the chief parties fairly even and given the small Laborite-Inde-pendent gToup the balance of power in the new Parliament. Presuming that Mr. McLaren displaces Dr. Newman for Wellington East the Opposition have 35 seats, the Government 33, Independents five, and Laborites four. If the Maori elections result in the return of the Government candidates, as probably will be the case, the Government's strength will be increased to 36. On a no-con-fidence motion, three of the Labor men, Payne (Grey Lynn), Veitch (Wanganui) and Robertson (Otaki) will probably vote against the Ministry, as may the Independents, Dickson (Parnell) and Atmore (Nelson). Coates (Kaipara) says he will support the present Ministry if returned to power for a year, whilst Hindmarsh will vote with the Government on a no-confidence motion. The attitude of Rhodes (Thames) and Clark (Chalmers) in regard to deciding the fate of the Ministry, Temains to be seen. But from what is known Sir Joseph Ward could, on a no-confidence motion, depend upon thirty-two straight-out supporters (the Speaker's vote would only be exercised in the case of a tie), one Labor vote, and at least one Independent vote. Presuming the Maori elections next week go in his favor, the Premier's voting power would be 37, against Mr. Massey's 35, plus probably three Laborites and two Independents, or a total of 40. The advantage is therefore with the Opposition, and probably Mr. Massey will have an early chance of forming a Government. Its duration, however, would Temain entirely in the.hands of either the Independent or Labor parties. Aggressive Labor, as a curious means of showing its gratitude to a Government that has done more for Labor than any other in the world, bites the hand that has fed it. Surely no amalgamation was ever so utterly wierd as the joining of Labor's forces with that of its hereditary enemies. No one for a moment believes that the situation can last. It is either a case of the dog wagging the tail or the tail wagging the dog. Labor is possibly feeling strong and confident at the moment. It is probable that it may show its strength by kicking over the traces and of quarrelling (and politically ruining) its strange bedfellows. In

thu necessary appeal to the country under easily foreseen circumstances, Labor —-at least temporarily—may be the dominating faction in New Zealand, as it is in several Australian States. A protective association of the moderates of both existing parties may he necessary to resist the demands that will inevitably be made. The big landed proprietors, like Messrs. Buchanan, Hunter and Campbell, have been taken to the bosoms of the people who want land! Ninety men of the class at this moment hold ten million acres of' New Zealand! If anybody believes that Labor, which says it wants the land to be cut up and peopled, will troop after the Campbells and Hunters and Buchanans into the lobby on a land question, he should be carefully examined as to his sanity. The young men of tlie country are crying out for land, and apparently a large number, of these landless folk are voting for the men whose political business is to refuse it to them. The enemies of the bursting up policy have at last persuaded a very large section of the people that they are the persons to. manage their affairs. Xo situation was ever more preposterous—Robertson, and Buchanan, Veitch and Campbell, Payne and Hunter! The incongruity is patent to a person suffering with the most pronounced political astigmatism. One never knows. These landed nabobs, like Scrooge, may get a change of heart at Christmas time and turn over a new leaf. The Premier lias been too pacific and considerate in his treatment of tke big landowners. He should, we venture to think, never have slackened in his attack on them, and should have made the most strenuous efforts to make them disgorge lands which are so urgently wanted for close settlement, for on closer settlement and a larger population the future prosperity of this Dominion absolutely depends. Sir Joseph Ward has ifought the hardest battle of his political life, and against an army that has used every method and device to obtain its end. His enemies have shown a sinister cleverness wholly without precedent in New Zealand —and they have certainly bought trouble for themselves at great expense. The sectarian dragon even has shown his wicked head; the baronetcy, of course, has 1 been skilfully used as an illustration to the workers (who eagerly desire to be New Zealand's aristocrats) of the Premier's lapse from the democracy to which Mr. Massey and those other gentlemen too obviously belong.. The Dreadnought gift has been a Godsend to the Tory-Socialist-Labor Party, and vituperation after accusation has ■been hurled at his head. He has nailed every accusation to the counter, but ho has been unable to fight the scandals privately circulated. It is rather wonderful that Sir Joseph Ward has survived the electionat.all. Whether he is able to carry on the Government of the country or whether Mr. Massey is called to form a Ministry, we feel sure the people will give the Premier the credit he deserves for faithfully discharging great duties and in sacrificing health, money and ; time to them.. He has not been altogether blessed in his associates in the Cabinet, and there is no doubt that he has. been weak in not kicking some of them out long ago. The notorious incompetence of some of his colleagues meant that much more administrative work than he should have tackled fell to his share at a time when he controlled the finances of the country and took a leading part in Imperial affairs. Even his political enemies must 'admire him for his untiring work on behalf of New Zealand. Mr. Massey has fought well. He may get to the Treasury Benches, where his real trouble begins. He will find that to redeem the promises of his weary years of .waiting is a very difficult matter from making them. It is easier to criticise than to construct, to harass the rearguard than to deliver a frontal attaek. He has been able to point the finger of scorn at the disunity of the enemy party, but he will likely be called upon to show his generalship in uniting the warring elements of his incongruous army when it comes to a decision on land tenure or trifles. He has wielded the knout long enough, and knows all the duties of a flagellant. It will be interesting to observe his attitude under the very necessary whip of a much more skilled man than himself. There is every indication that the path of the political traveller will not be strewn with flowers in the immediate future, rind that Mr. Massey's piece of path will have less flowers than the others'. In any case, we nope he will be given a fair chance, the chance his valiant fighting has entitled him to.