A DANGER TO BE AVOIDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1919, Page 4

A DANGER TO BE AVOIDED.

There is a distinct danger in the .attitude of self-deceptive complacency adopted by the National Government and its supporters. There is every indication that the publio has lost faith and confidence in the Goyernment, though ready enough to admit ,that it did valuable work during the war period ft desires a change, and the danger lies in the possibility of it turning, in despair, to the extremists, who, at any rate, have a definite and understandable policy, by which they are ready to Btand or fall. That the danger is a real one is shown by the results of all tie recent bye-elections. No one who loves his country can regard with equanimity the growth in power and influence of this extreme element. }tfew Zealand people, as a whole, are pretty moderate and sound in their poetical views, realising that only by evolution on constitutional lines can satisfactory and permanent improvement in our social conditions be effected and the country's unlimited natural resources developed. That the extremists should have secured a hearino nt all proves the extent of the dissatis"-: faction with the administration of the] present regime. The true remedy lies, »ot in bolstering up and excusing the actions of ,the Government, but in exposing their weaknesses and in insisting upon a thorough overhaul of jthe Parliamentary machine and the selection of the best men available as representatives with a view to promptly remedying legitimate grievances and finding effective solutions for the problems before us. To act otherwise is, we fear, to play into the hands of the extremists, who never were more active nor had such opportunities of sowing their poisonous seed. It is no time for dissertations on the merits of legislators who, in sporting language, liave "done their dash" and for drawing red herrings across the track leading to real reform and improvement. ]t is a time for a clean sweep of .those who have been tried and found wanting and the substitution therefor of the best men the country can send to Parliament. The political brand is of no real consequence so long as the men possess initiative, resourcefulness, and determination to administer the affairs of the country on sane, progressive lines that will be effective in coping with the problems of the day that are in urgent need of settlement.