The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The end of the Coalition Government has arrived. With almost, dramatic suddenness, Sir Joseph Ward resigned from the National Ministry, and his example is being followed by the other Liberal members of the Cabinet. The 'main object for which the political truce was entered into has been accomplished, and it is probable the general feeling throughout the Dominion at the disruption of an executive which lias, by its own inherent weakness, failed to deal with the many problems arising out of the war, will he one of satisfaction, for time presses, and it has become imperative to put an end to the lamentable inaction and lack of initiative at the earliest possible moment, especially now that the conditions which were created by the war. no longer exist. The present need is for a strong, moderate, and. progressive Government that will not only clear up the accumulated arrears of legislation, but will initiate a policy that will solve, on sane and intelligent lines, the difficult problems now demanding treatment. Sir Joseph Ward has lost no time in issning a manifesto, framed to appeal to all sections and to attract votes, one which contains a very comprehensive programme and clearly demonstrates that he has been closely watching the trend of events. It is neither necessary nor desirable to enter upon any speculations as to the cause of the cleavage between the two political leaders at this particular moment. The country is soon to be called upon to elect another Parliament, and it is more to the purpose that the people should be enlightened at the earliest possible moment as to the platforms of the two main political parties. It is open to Mr. Massey to follow. Sir Joseph I Ward's course in this matter as | soon as he pleases. Whatever may j be the faults of party government —and they are many, it must be admitted—there is no question that there are also distinct ••rdvantages. The experience of New Zealand during the political armistice has >been anything but satisfactory, apart from the measures taken in connection with winning the war, for the success of which the Coalition Government must be given full credit. Outside the war measures, the Government [has done little or nothing to promote the interests of the j country. This failure, of course, | was largely due to the understanding come to by the leaders at the inception of the National Cabinet that no controversial questions would be introduced, as well as to the lack of capacity of several members of the Cabinet. No one anticipated at the time that the war was going to drag on for five years; otherwise, perhaps, the policy would have been modified. The fact is that I during the five years no real I progress has been made, no earnest j endeavor made to deal with the many questions that have cropped up. It has been a ease of putting off the evil day until now the task ahead of the country is truly a gigantic one, calling for, as Sir Joseph Ward states in his manifesto, "the best brains and the brightest intellects of the country, not only inside, but also outside Parliament, to' cope with the many alnd varied problems that have to be solved to help in the work of government on strong, progressive lines." There is no reason to doubt the sincerity of his statement that his resignation was dictated by a desire to act in what he conceived to be the best interests of the country. The break was bound to come sooner or later, and, in our view, the sooner the better. Mr. Massey does not take kindly to the return to party (government, and hopes to see a 1 strong party returned at the next election. In that, hope there should be endorsement by all who desire to promote the welfare of the Dominion, though it is worthy of note that the Prime Minister has only just discovered that the "old system of party shibboleths" is the "old bad way of seeking party advantage without regard

first to the interest;, of the country," and yet it was through this old bad system that he became , the Leader of the Government [instead of the Leader of the Opposition, By placing his cards on the table, Sir Joseph Ward has given Mr. Massey the opportunity to frame, if he can, a more satisfying platform, and that task lie will doubtless undertake in his own good time. Many of the present proposals by the Liberal leader have been advocated persistently by the more influential organs of the press for years past, and against the active opposition of no one more than Sir Joseph himself. Some of the proposals are intended to solve the urgent problems of the day, while others are open to criticism. The country will eagerly await the counter proposals of the Reform party, so there is a reasonable hope that the period of political inactivity has been passed and a definite move made towards the solution of the many problems that are before the Dominion.