The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1915. A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1915. A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Exceptional circumstances can only be met by exceptional measures. Never in the history of tlic British Empire has there arisen such a critical and stupendous task as that which devolves upon the Ministers of Britain and the overseas dominions. Never has there 'been a time like the present for the exhibition of absolute -unanimity and the elimination of every tracp of party strife. The situation demands that th.3 whole strength of the entire Empire shall 'be directed to tihe accomplishment of the great task of regaining the world's peace by the most vigorous and effective prosecution of the war against the enemies of that pea»e. (There is no place for petty party t*»»*iona, for the people are of one mind, wfcich is keenly concentrated in the one great aim, and nothing must intervene to overshadow the troubles inherent to the war. The administrators of the 'Motherland recognised this, with the result that a Na-I tional Ministry was formed, consisting of the best and wisest of England's statesmen, irrespective of party. Such a step indicated most emphatically that at such a, time of peril it was expedient that the affairs of the country should be administered, not only harmoniously, but also with the best intellectual and administrative talent available. How much the more necessary, therefore, is it that in New Zealand, where the chief political parties are so nearly equally | balanced, there should be a truce to pa'ty politic* and the example of the Motherland followed? Public opinion has stressed the need for adopting this course, and the Prime .Minister has i-iscn to the occasion by announcing that the Government is prepared to discuss and favorably consider any reasonable proposal for the establishment of a National Cabinet. It would doubtless have been more to the. purpose if, instead of placing the onus of making proposals on the Opposition, Mr. Masscy had adopted Mr. Asfpiith's method, 'hut, no matter what the procedure may he, the recognition of the fact that a coalition is advisa.iile is <<"!;i!i]!y a move in the right direcl ion. Wo need the best and ablest men at tin- brad of affairs, just as much as, if not more Mian, the Motherland. There lien- he -eri-iin |i;): r i-!;i r ; |„ ~V l, r . eio-. of l!ie moment, i l . shone! lie . a-v lo -ink : !1 minor eueMimw, and io rally l round i'm main nag of patriotism i:i nil united effort to help Mie Km.ere in lis (1.. - !-:-evio::sl:...il,at (hero should he a Vafhmal MinMvv in \"»- Zealand. I Tn Ihe f.-vo!,- „: )he n ; .|,,Ki(i,„, tw country, lin- impartial mind km m- j knowledge, iin-: a. •/veal, statesman ae I j It fit them to act. ns his Map- 1 -' ■■ ■■ ; riser-'. There should h,' no diT-ultv' a, a- ■■:.-■■■<:' port lelhrs -if only the -:i:r,e; htriMm.dy evhh uf anion-; -Mr. \-nui[V-| Zaalaud's e'ahu to he in the v,iia-i,,ir,! !

tions, the most immediate and pressing of which is unity among its foremost and best men in the political aroia coupled with the exhibition of that conciliatory and patriotic spirit which vill prove that the country i s OTe> heart soul, m the onerous work wliicli li e 3 ahead.