THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1908. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3043, 13 November 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1908. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

It is a peculiar and satisfactory feature of the present political contest that the attitude of the Independent candidate is entirely appreciated in many electorates, and we notice that a number of well-conducted journals, including some of the most influential in the Dominion, sympathise strongly with what may be termed "the independent view" of the political situation. The dual party system, which was supposed to exiet in this country, has been practically broken down, for a time at least, and there is no doubt that a great majority of the electors approve of this aspect of the situation, so far as it goes, but, at the same time, there is a widespread feeling, which is every day becoming more manifest, that stronger opposition in the House is needed. That any small body of men, known as 3 political party, should possess unbridled power in respect to the Dominion's affairs is a position of danger to the country, and under our democratic system of Government, the only means by which a, check can be brought to

bear upon the actions of such party, is by confronting them with a party of nearly equal strength. As a matter of fact, it is largely immaterial to the people as a body, under our dual party system, which party is in power, so long as tiie re lative strength of the parties approaches equality. No candidate for Parliament, nor any newspaper, has so complete iy described the political situation, so far as we have observed, as the "New Zealand Herald," in an article, in which it remarks:—"lt can unhesitatingly be said that in the opinion of every thoughtful man and woman, the great political need of the times is for more independent and critical members in Parliament, Whether or not the dual party system is being permanently broken down by the development of democratic methods may be debated; but that it has temporarily ceased to be potential in New Zealand cannot be ctemed. We have a Parliamentary party so strong that it dominates the country, and will certainly not be overturned upon Tuesday next. The Government which depends upon this Parliamentary party, has an apparently indefinite tenure of office, and naturally prefers servile Parliamentary supporters to independent and critical supporters. Were parties evenly balanced, it would endeavour to conciliate the more independent section, but with little fear of attack from the outside it indignantly resents criticism, and forces through legislative and administrative proposals with little regard to intelligent comment or patriotic suggestion. This is not good for the public, and is not even good for a paity. We are often told, and with truth, that the function of an Opposition is to criticise, and that therefore an Opposition is desirable and necessary. But an independent member, who is not bound either to support every proposal of a Government or to endorse every criticism of an Opposition, but who may criticise what rs objectionable and approve what is laudable, is probably at this .juncture the most desirable of all Parliamentarians; a handful of such members, if energetic and capable, will always affect legislation and influence administration. The intent of the beating of many drums, the making of many speeches, the rallying of the well-drilled party forces, is to obliterate in the mind of the elector the repeated occasions during the past three years when it has been commonly realised that a Government of which much good can be said has done utterly badly because members failed to assert their independence, and to remember that duty to the country takes precedence of duty to any party or support to any Administration. If the electors keep clear minds and sound memories on Tuesday next, they will, wherever possible, send to the House representatives who can be depended upon to act for the best interests of the country, irrespective of parties, and to fight the Government tocth and nail whenever it attempts to use wrongfully the extraordinary power of a decisive Parliamentary majority."