Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1919, Page 4

LOOKING FOR A LEAD. It is necessary to face the political position in the Dominion fairly and squarely. During the war and the existence of the National Coalition Government politics have been suffering from a species of creeping paralysis that has not only destroyed all progressive and constructive activities, but has opened the way for the Bolshevik microbe to get in its destructive, revolutionary wedge, and there is a very strong feeling among thinking people that steps should be taken to put an end to the present legislative hiatus, as well as to organise strongly iu order to rally the people to a fighting platform that will promote good government, ensure the welfare of all classes, and erect an impregnable barrier against the extremists. It was claimed by the National Government that everything must give way to winning the war. Such an attitude, worthy in some respects, was certainly most convenient to Ministers. It certainly left the chiefs free to spend long periods out of the country, and to adopt a policy of drift that has created many evils. Meanwhile a process of political stocktaking has been entered upon. The present parties have been weighed in the balance and, found wanting. It would be an insult to the community to suggest that an educative campaign is needed to arouse them to the true position of affairs. What is wanted is a lead and a leader—a party that will vigorously undertake a policy of progressiveness suited to the altered conditions vhich I the war has evolved. When the Conservatives became Eefonners they merely utilised so-called reform to get into power, and the eventual coalition left extreme Labor in opposition. There has