The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 30,1912. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 61, 30 July 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 30,1912. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

To-morrow we shall -probably have somp definite indication in formal style of the intentions of the Government. During the brief interregnum, Mr. Maesey and his merry men do not appear to. have had exactly the primrose way to tread that they anticipated. It is a standing order in the gentle art of politic eat economy that it is pmclv easier to be'in. opposition than to be in command. Offensive criticism is always, dearer to the heart of the professional, politician than defensive work, just as the typical Irishman, landing on the re-j mote island of Somewhereorother, enquired "'ls there a Government?" and on •being assured that there was replied, "Well,' .I'm agin it." Mr. Massey will probably find this particular attitude his main stumbling block. He aiul his colleagues have, lived so-long in. the cool shades of opposition that tlieir sudden entry into the sunlight cannot but be,, £o some extent, embarrassing. Not everybody can stand "the pure «everity of perfect light," and the i new Government will have the limelight thrown ■very strongly upon it during the earlier, stages of its administration. Gossiping in the town yesterday, we had the fortune to meet, a settler from out-back who was unaware (hat, the Mackenzie Ministry had been defeated, and that Mr. Massey was in power. He accepted the news quite philosophically, with the comment. "Oh, well, it don't matter; we'll go on just the same." We are not at all sure (hat (ffis country-side wisdom is not sound. If any notice can be taken of the Ministerial forewords thai we

have had. Mr. Government appears to have assumed the Liberal policy along with the Government bunches. TrogresMve legislation in the matter of land settlement, roading and bridging for the back-blocks, amelioration of labor condition?, and even a hint of progressive taxation, have already been foreshadowed. These things, of course, lie in the lap of the gods at the moment, but it is at least significant that all the public utterances of (lie n~\v Ministry bo

far have been in the direction of indicating that their policy will be a reason- J ably progressive one. We are not among;] those who believe that no good thing : ever came out of Nazareth, and we are quite prepared to give Mr. Massey and his colleagues a chance to "make good" if ti;ay can. If the promises to which they are already committed are fulfilled, wc- see no reason why the Government should not now last out the Parliamen-tary-term at any rate. There are, to speak quite fairly, indications that Mr Massey'a policy will conflict very materially with his previous criticisms, but it is a privilege that every Britisher shares with womankind that he may change his mind. If Mr. Massey, as is more than suggested, intends to adopt the Liberal role, the country will be happily faced with a change of administration only, and not a change of policy. In the meantime, pending an official statement of the Government's intentions, it is a fair thing to reserve judgment and to allow the heaving of political bricks to await the excuse of legitimate opportunity.