THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1919, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

PRESS VIEWS. j Commenting on the results of tlio polling, r,he Auckland Herald states: —"Sir Joseph Ward's defeat leaves the traditional Opposition leaderless. The tliinning of its ranks reduces its importance to that of a mere Parliamentary group. Its continuance as a separate entity is by no means assured. This election emphasises that the trend of political development is towards two parties, one extreme and the other moderate, Ihcre is no room for a second moderate party, and the future of the group which includes Messrs Myers, ikicDonald, and SVilford must give occasion for heartsearching among its metabers." Tlic Herald goes on to say that ill'. Massey's "success in no sense means the endorsement of every member of the Cabinet. It will be Mr. Massey's duty to gather around liini the strongest Ministry he can form and concentrate its energies upon the development of the country's natural resources."

The Auckland Star (Liberal) says: "Liberalism in 2!?ew Zealand had to carry Labor's sins on its back, and Labor would do well to reflect to-day what this will mean. It is largely because as a party Labor would not do its duty in the war, applauded the shirker and not the soldier, and showed more solicitude for beaten Germany than for un- ; beaten Germany's victims that the Lib- j eral Party has shrunk to seventeen I members and that Mr. Massey seems assured of au absolute majority over all his opponents. By its blindness and perversity during the war and its insistence on splitting the anti-Reform vote in a number of electorates, thereby letting a Reformer in on a. minority vote, Labor has fastened Reform on this country for at least another three years. It hoped to hold the balance of power in the new House, hut it lias destroyed i the possibility of there being sueli a balance. Liberalism is not dead,* and i in the hour of defeat it need not he bitter. An opponent of Mr. Massey way feel compelled to refer plainly to certain aspects of the. election, but may proceed to wish him well in his new lease of power and to express the hope that all three parties may sink every difference that is not vitnl and work together for the good of the country. An appeal for united effort for the national good is appropriate to the season, and the Liberals may hope, amid their natural disappointment, that Mr.

Massey's words in the hour of success arc a "good omen for the outcome of the political work that lies ahead." The Lvttelton Times, after admitting that the results of the elections give Mr. Massey a good majority, goes 011 to say: "Whether the.new Parliament is the choice of the majority of the .electors is another question. It would !i uncanclid for us to deny we are disappointed, for we !ud hoped to see the Conservative Party defeated and a progressive poliev put into operation a= soon as possible. We dislike and distrust the Reform Party, and our feelings are founded upon long observation and acquaintance. Mr. Massey and his friends, however, claim to have been converted to democratic principles by the practical object lessons wh'.eh they have received of the virtue? and benefits of the legislation passed acrains. their wishes b'- Governments presided over by

Pallance, Seddon, and \ ard. It is even claimed for Mr. Massey, strangely enough, vhat he is "Seddonian." If he has the will to justify that claim ho certainly has the opportunity in the Parliament elected yesterday. Possibly the Prime Minister will realise his responsibilities to the whole of the people

iind try to forget lie now merely represents wealth arid land monopoly. Experience lias ccrtainlv taught Mr. Massev astuteness, and if he ia aspirin" 1 as his admirers would have us believe to wear the mantle of Mr. Seddon he may democratise his mind and his methods. Realising that Mr. Massey will have the destinies of the country very largely in hi* ImrnN during the next three 1 years we enrrcstlv hope that he will really 1 try to justify the trust that is imposed in him and the claim made on his hehalf that he is democratic." The (Jhristchureh Press says: "The country is to be congratulated upon its splendid response to the appeal of the Government under the gallant leadership of Mr. Massey and upon the wrecking of the Wardist Party. .Mr. Massey lias secured an absolute majority in the House, and the country is secure against the peril of a combination o- Liberals and Labor representatives. 'The result is a great personal' triumph for the Prime Minister, who stands higher in the public estimation and regard to-day | than ever. Those who are in very close touch with politics know that in September last the outlook '"or the Government was not good, but the firmness and resolution with which Mr. Massev took lioid of a seemingly desperate situation and til rnedah .F-Lb ahlsrt'xx

and turned a hopeless looking session into a session of useful and necessary work made a very deep impression upon the public mind. There are thousands of good and (sincere people amongst those who yesterday voted for Wardist candidates who will grieve over Hie collapse of the party they have lonr supported, and over the sensational personal defeat of the leader of that party. We do not think that they need griaro for long, or that they will. Those of thein who love true Liberalism as Gladstonian Liberals did and do. will find speedy consolation in the fact that Liberal principles have not suii'ered through the renewal of Mr. Massey's term of office, and have gairal throuuh the extinction of that opportunist force which we call Waidism. The fundamental I common sense of the people is revealed also by their treatment of Sir Joseph Ward's absurd promises of a political and cconsyiic heaven for everybody at the exceedingly cheap price of a vote. It will be a long time before any politician ever attempts again to persuade the people of this country that big things can be done without serious labor, that something can be got for nothing, or that the impossible can be accomplished at all. Complete success has been late in coming to the Prime Minister, but everyone will see that the country must profit from its wisdom in entrusting its affairs to a political leader who has slowly and steadily made his way, and whose political character and 1 strength have come to their best in the maturity oUiis career. To quarrel with the magnificent victory won by Reform yesterday would be to quarrel with the ! character of the nation."