The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1922. THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1922. THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

The complete electoral returns do not alter the position materially. The Government has won but 38 seats, and. therefore, is in a minority. What will happen is naturally a subject of considerable discussion and speculation. The Reform Party’ will require to elect a Speaker from among its own members, thus further weakening its strength. It is assumed that the Independent Liberals and the straight-out Independent (Mr. Statham) will side with the Government rather than that the Liberals shall rule with the aid of Labor, or that another appeal be made to electors. The position somewhat resembles that which arose after the 1911 election. The Liberals found themselves in a corner, and reconstructed their Government, Sir Joseph Ward retiring from the leadership in favor of Sir (then Mr.) Thomas Mackenzie, and tried to carry on. Reform, however, outvoted them, and has held the reins ever since. The essential -difference between the position then and the position now, is that the Reform Opposition in 1912 comprised a solid party, while the present Opposition consists of elements that are sworn enemies. Two courses appear probable. The first is that at least four of the Independent Liberals may go over to the Reform Party, not on a vote of noconfidence only, but as thorough supporters. The second is that Mr. Massey may appeal direct to the country. Speaking at Petone on the night prior to the elections, Mr. Wilford declared that if he was returned with one more supporter than Mr. Holland, he would be the leader of the Opposition, and one of the first things he would do would be to move a vote of no-confidence in the Massey Party. It is probable that if Mr. Wilford carries out his intention he will not succeed in defeating the Government, for the reason that two or three members of the Opposition are committed, or are practically committed, to support the Government on a no-eonfidenee motion. But unless these members are prepared to leave the Opposition camp for good and take their places on the Government side of the House—a proceeding they might find difficult to reconcile with their campaign affirmations and conduct—Mr. Massey, it appears to us, would be foolish to carry on after succeeding on Mr. Wilford’s no-confidence motion. To carry on might easily endanger the interests of the country. To explain. Mr. Wilford. defeated on the no-confidence motion, could later on bring forward a Bill providing for proportional representation. The Independent Liberals, committed as they are to vote for Mr. Massey on a no-confidence motion, would be quite free, however, to vote with Mr. Wilford on such a matter as proportional representation, which would thus be carried (the Reform Party being in the minority), and the Government would be compelled to resign. Then Mr. Massey would have to go to the country on the changed electoral system, which, we are convinced, would play into the hands of Labor (the

country quota would automatically disappear) and do the country irreparable harm. Much better would it be for Mr. Massey, unless he is assured of a workable majority by certain of the Liberals going over to him permanently, to ask for a dissolution after the vote is taken on a no-confidence motion. It is likely Mr. Wilford would be defeated on such a motion, and Mr. Massey, therefore, would be entitled to ask for a dissolution, going to the country then as Prime Minister. The suggestion is .freely made that the Liberals and Reformers should coalesce against Labor and thus avoid another appeal to the country. This, of course, would be an easy way out of the difficulty, and be welcomed by many members who have good reason to fear the results of another election, but, is it in the best interests of the country that there should be this merging? We question it. There must be an alternative Government to the one in power that is an indispensable condition of the successful working of our democratic constitution. The average British public lose confidence or become tired of an administration, and like a change. The history of every British country provides ample illustrations of this. - Suppose there were no Liberal Party in New Zealand, the only alternative would be Labor. ' And assuredly would have its day and occupy the Treasury Benches, and, unless it alters its present policy, would bring about ruin as it is bringing in Queensland and as it almost did in New South Wales. On the grounds of expediency no doubt it would be satisfactory to effect a coalition of the two parties; but on broad national grounds, and having regard to future possibilities, we are inclined to think it would prove a costly mistake. Far better for Mr. Massey to go again to the electors and ask for a working majority. We feel sure electors, now that the dangers of the position are apparent to them, would accord it to him.