The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1919. RETURN OF POLITICAL LEADERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1919. RETURN OF POLITICAL LEADERS.

■Whatever may have been the views of the public concerning the departure of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to attend the Peace Conference, and the consequent holding up of public business through the absence of both Ministers at a time when so many grave problems needed attention, it was inevitable that New Zea-

land should be represented at that momentous congress. The return of the two political leaders should be hailed with satisfaction, and they are fairly entitled to the thanks of the community for the part they took in the deliberations at Versailles, and may be congratulated on the success achieved. It may be urged in extenuation of the dual representation that neither of the leaders represnted the will of the people in Parliament, and as a Coalition Government was the only sane course to adopt during the war, the exigencies of party rivalry made it expedient for both leaders to take part in the mission, so that it can be truly said that New Zealand was fully represented. It would be invidious to weigh the part each of the delegates took in connection witn the Conference, and it is only fair to assume that both, did their best in whatever way they were called upon to assist, and there is every reason to believe they worthily represented the Dominion. "With that to their credit the Conference may be left to history, and Imperial affairs put aside in order that the urgent accumulation of important Dominion matters may have a chance of attention after five years' dormancy. In his reply at Auckland to criticisms on the Coalition Government, Mr Massey contended that both the objects for which the Coalition was formed had been achieved, namely, to win the war and keep the country prosperous. To most people it will seem somewhat difficult to understand what the Government did to keep the country prosperous, and it is likely that the majority of the public will rather be inclined to consider that the country's prosperity was continued in spite of the Coalition; nor will many right-thinking and resourceful people concur in Mr Massey's dictum that "it is nut possible to carry on ordinal"/ domestic legislation during a war period such as we have experienced." If Britain, whicli bore the brunt of the war burden, could carry on "ordinary domestic legislation" it should have been an easy task for the Dominion. The will and driving force—perhaps necessary cohesion—were, lacking, with the result that the country has been governed by the various departments of the State, and Parliament became a mere voting machine. That is why the cost of living soared so high that all sorts •of expedients were suggested to cope with the evil, but no firm policy was evolved, the only policy being that of drift. We are reaping the fruit of taihoa in the shape of unrest and avoidable hardships, and these factors have stirred up a keen desire for good government and a demand for effective measures 1o solve the problems that have been neglected. Both the loaders have refused to voice their opinions on the needs of the country, but the people have the right to expect that this silence will speedily give way to a full and frank exposition of policy, especially in. view of the near approach of a general election. Wo have already, on more than one occasion, emphasised the growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the present administration, and the need for strong resourceful and far-seeing men at the head of affairs, endowed with the requisite initiative, and backed by an adequate majority in the House. Manifestly the coming short session of Parliament will be dominated by the coming election, but in order to successfully eliminate the evils of the past in politics it is imperative the electors should have a well-defined choice of selection of leaders pledged to extricate the country from its present aimless drift and to carry out a policy that will fit in with the after-war requirements and put an end to the evils that are now being endured. If neither of the present, leaders can put forward a satisfactory policy, then it will be for others to come forward and win the confidence of the country. So far as Mr Massey has spoken since his return, lie has chiefly offered excuses, one of the most notable for its ingenuity being in connection with the cost of living, in which he boldly asserted that the cost of living in England (which depends on overseas supplies in very large measure) was double what it is in New Zealand. He then placed on the public the onus of dealing with exploiters, and challenged the accusation that tlie "Coalition Government had done nothing or had failed to do everything possible." The answer to that is the self evident fact that instead of being kept down the cost of living is continuously rising, the chief cause being rampant exploitation. If the Premier takes up the same air of injured innocence on all the other problems of the day it will not be any departure from previous methods, and that is why the Dominion is so dissatisfied. Sir Joseph Ward has contented himself for the present with expressing his recognition of the existence of many grave problems that must be solved. Mr Massey says he has the utmost confidence that the majority of the citizens in the Dominion will "do the right thing when the time comes, both in the industrial and political issues."

The public will not be satisfied with these platitudes. The tactics of the ostrich are not suited to the problems that face New Zealand. They h&ve to be tackled, boldly and systematically. It is a time for action, not words.