The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1919. MR. MASSEY'S POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1919. MR. MASSEY'S POLICY.

With the advent of the Premier's j manifesto the views and promises of both the main political parties are before the country. Unlike Sir Joseph "Ward, Mr. Massey lias for the most part avoided setting forth definitely the course of action which his party is prepared to take in relation to a number of specific national needsj and has been content to refer generally to the needs of the time and the measures by which it is proposed to meet them. This course has the advantage of being devoid of gallery play, but it necessarily carries with it that element of ambiguity which politicians generally find a very convenient asset. The chief matters on which a definite policy is laid down are those which public opinion has been insistently urging on the Government for some time past, and, therefore, were bound to find a prominent place in any political platform. The programme opens with the statement that the need of the time is a "sound Government, with strong administrative capacity, clearly recognising its duty without fear or favor, party motive, or personal interest, conscientiously doing its best for the good of the country." Stripped of its frillings, this assertion simply means "a statesmanlike administration." It is for the people to look back and take note of what Mr. Massey has done in this direction in the past that •will justify hopes of fruition of the kind of Government referred to as necessary for the future. In this connection we may be excused for emphasising the fact that it is not promises, but performances, that the country has been needing, is needing, and will certainly expect in the future. Unfortunately the country and the people have suffered from the lack of a wise, sound Government, and they cannot live on promises for ever. It may be remembered that in 1911 the Reform Party promised reduction of taxation, lessening of cost of living, prevention of land aggregation, etc. In party warfare it is customary to make promises in order to catch votes, and both the Liberals and Reformers are adhering to this reprehensible practice, though Mr. Massey puts in a plea for a single party—a national party—that will, he contends, get rid of this demoralising system. If the recent National Coalition Government is any guide in this matter, few will be rash enough to acclaim it as a success. The more the political position is studied from the point of view of the best interests of the country, the clearer becomes the conviction that the whole system is at fault. We have entered a new era where our responsibilities are vastly greater than ever before, and conditions are completely changed. The whole principle on which members of Parliament have hitherto been chosen seems to require recasting. There are too many serious problems to solve to take the risk of electing members or forming Governments on the strength—or weakness—of mere vote-catching promised. If the p_eop)_e of jhe

Dominion are earnest in their j desire for a strong, capable, and' conscientious administration, they should realise that the only way to secure the boon is to select as representatives the very best men for members of Parliament—men of proved business ability—entirely apart from the question of which party tbey will support, and leaving the matter of the personnel of the Government to be settled after the House meets. The great evil which has been gradually growing and taking ail everincreasing hold as a dominating influence in the government of the country is bureaucracy, and if that is to be eliminated—as it must be—the actual control of departments of State will have to be placed in the hands of permanent under-seeretaries, who j should be the very best men that can be obtained. If we regard Mr. Massey's manifesto as a recital of the needs of the country, it is a j strong indictment against past 'failure to deal with those needs, and it will be seen that even now the policy of the Reform Party is in. many respects vague and uncertain. This is particularly the case in relation to the development of the resources of the country by research, roads, and railways; also in regard to ocean transport matters, the encouragement of industries, the coal mines problem, the railways, and in other important directions. Mr. Massey may have been unfortunate in his choice of colleagues in the Cabinet, but having once made the choice he dare not make changes when failures become apparent, owing to the closeness of the strength of parties in the House. Manifestly there must be a great change, no matter what the result of the elections may be. The country need not concern itself so much with party manifestos as with the selection of the best men offering. The urgent needs are such as to compel any Government to deal with them at the earliest possible moment, and to the extent that the money available will permit.