SUGGESTED COALITION.
1 One would hardly expect to find a journal "owned and controlled by farmers" advocating a coalition between the Government and the Opposition. Yet this is what the "Farmers' Union Advocate" does in its issue of last Saturday. It says there is very little difference between the views held by Mr Massey and those held by Sir Joseph Ward, and declares that both are alike imbued with a desire to do the best for the dominion. The latter portion of the asseveration is much more accurate than the former. In many vital matters the two leaders take diametrically opposite views, and it is not easy to understand how they can he honestly reconciled. For some time past the political breach has been widened by the introduction of the personal element in their controversies. This culminated in almost bitter invective in the House of Representatives, on Saturday morning, when each leader, abandoning t:i3 "retort courteous" and the "quip modest," reached the "lie with a circumstance" and narrowly escaped breaking into the "lie direct." Who could follow even superficially the discussions that have taken place on the several land measures before the House during the past two or three months, or those that have take i I place on other policy measures for some years past, and aver that there is-little difference between the views of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition? They both wish to benefit the dominion doubtless, but the ways of one are not the ways of the other. It really is the dread of a I third—a socialistic party—springing up that has made the wish of the "Farmers' Union Advocate" father to the thought, for that journal ex- ' claims that "unless somes such combination eventuates, it is to be feared that the next election will see a triple party, which will give the socialists the balance of power, such as has been won by trickery in the Commonwealth." There i", of course, a possibility of this occurring sooner or later, but we do not think the next Parliament will see a third united party holding the balance of power. It has to be remembered in the meantime that Sir Joseph Ward's tendencies are far more socialistic than Mr Massey's, and it is extremely doubtful if these two leaders could ever coalesce, or at any rate work long together in double harness if circumstances at any time t'orcel a coalition upon them.
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8865, 28 October 1907, Page 4
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407SUGGESTED COALITION. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8865, 28 October 1907, Page 4
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