COUNTRY’S VOICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1922, Page 5

COUNTRY’S VOICE.

THfc VOTING-ANALYSED. MINORITY IN POWER. FAULTS OF THE SYSTEM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nbv. 21. The Australian Press Association has secured for exclusive publication in Australia and New Zealand an article by Mr. Lloyd George reviewing the elections. The ex-Premier prefaces the article by stating it is the duty of every patriotic citizen, in view of the difficulties with which the country i© confronted, to assist the Government of the day by every means a;t his disposal. The article proceeds: The Conservatives succeeded in obtaining the return of a majority of their members, but a notable feature of the elections is the return of a decisive majority of members by a very infinite minority of the electors. The Prime Minister claimed that he had received a vote of confidence from the people of the country, but out of a total poll of fifteen millions hie candidates secured less than six millions, which means that two-fifths voted confidence in the administration, while three-fifths voted confidence in other leaders or groups. The result could hardly bo claimed as a vote of confidence. It might he argued that the National Liberals, having promised cooperation with the Government, their votes ought not to be placed on the debit side. /

Mr. Lloyd George quotes at length the conditions and measure of support laid down by him that the National Liberals promised to the Government, and claims that such support cannot be claimed in totalling the votes recorded for the Government. He stresses the fact that only 40 per cent, of the electorate voted for the Government, because it is likely to have a profound effect upon the lifetime of this Parliament. It is the first time since the Reform Act was passed that a pronounced minority has succeeded in securing control of Parliament and the Government. It would bo idle to pretend that this does not waken the moral •authority of the Government. Therefore, if the Government is wise, it will bear the fact in mind and not commit itself to policies which challenge, the nine millions who represent the minority.

ELECTORAL SYSTEM CRITICISED. LABOR’S GIGANTIC TOTAL. PLEA FOR CO-OPERATION. Received Nov. 22, 7.45 p.m. London, Nov. 21. Mr. Lloyd George’s article proceeds: A curious working of our electoral system is found in the under-representation of other parties in the present Parliament, and therefore, unless representative government is to be discredited altogether, the present Pari? ament ought at once to devote its mind and to direct its energies to the discovery of a method to avert the danger which undoubtedly arises from the working of the present system. We are faced with a new danger to constitutional government. If we are to be governed by a succession cf Administrations who rule in spite of protest by the majority, the authority of the Government will be weakened beyond repair. Referring to the Labor Party, Mr. Lloyd George said, they secured many seats by a minority of votes, though conditions were in many respects against them and their funds were exhausted by prolonged unemployment. The trade union movement is passing through the ebb-tide of prosperity, both in funds and members. Moreover, Labor has been committed by visionaries to rash experiments, which handicapped it severely in the election, yet their votes reached the gigantic aggregate of 4,500,000. Whatever Labors difficulteis in the late election, they are not comparable with those under which Liberalism fought the campaign. It was devided by* internecine conflicts. As soon as the Coalition broke it was clearly ordained that Coalition Liberals should be crushed out, and this lamentable decision lost at least 40 Liberal seats and gave the Conservatives a majority. Thus no real fight was put up for Liberal principles on either side. Nevertheless, electorally Liberalism is the balancing power, and if it casts its united strength against either reaction or reversion its influence must be decisive; but if a sincere desire is manifested to substitute co-opera-tion for conflict, my colleagues and I will welcome it. The election will have taught many in the Labor Party that violent and extravagant proposals impede progress. If the limits are not too narrowly drawn, this Parliament may witness an effective association of men of many parties, genuinely concerned for the advancement of mankind along paths of peace and progress. The National Liberals at the election, unlike the other great parties, inherited no political machinery, and no machinery could be built up in three weeks; yet in spite of these adverse, even paralysing, conditions, our numbers are twice those of the Independent Liberals in 1918.