THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1910. THE FIRST ROUND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9707, 1 February 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1910. THE FIRST ROUND.

The British elections for January, 1910, are just over, and the only de- ! finite conclusion that can be drawn from the results, so far as future politics are concerned, is that another election will eventuate shortly. The remarkable evenness in the strength of the Unionist and Liberal parties j indicates apparently that the country is very evenjy divided'in its opinions as to the merits of the policies ad--1 vocated by the respective parties. The elections just passing, however, may be likened to the first round of a desperate fight—and one that will be fought to a finish. It is, unfortunate, however, that so many important issues should have been involved in the late contest, and this fact is a monument, if nothing else, to the genius of the political leaders engaged in the fight. The Government. Would, of course, have a' 'large ' majjiicy if they could rely abso-

lutely upon the support of the Nationalist and Labour parties, but this they cannot do, and though the Labour vote may be regarded as "Liberal," Mr Asquith is in the humiliating position of having to depend upon the uncertain Irish vote, for the successful passage of any measure tfiat he may bring forward. In our opinion thfere is but

little reason to douDt that it will not be long before the* Government and the Nationalists are at "loggerheads," and then the inevitable appeal to ths country will follow. It is true that a Unionist Government and the Nationalist party have at times pulled aJong fairly amicably, but Mr Balfour would not undertake the

formation oi a Miinstry in view of the present strengtn of parties, assuming that fie had the opportunity to do so, knowing that the Labour party is to a man hostile to the Unionists. The whole political situation at Home is, to our mind, very unsatisfactory, and we venture to say that we are very far from being alone in the opinion that we hold. Assuming that tariff reform and re- j form of the House of Lords were advocated by the Liberal party they would be returned, we are inclined to think, by an overwhelming majority. The great tariff reform plank of the Unionist party has been its mainstay in the day of battle, and it is, therefore, to that truly great veteran in politics, Mr Joseph Chamberlain, that the Unionist successes have to be chiefly ascribed. On the other hand, we think the Liberals were handicapped gby the suddenness with which they attacked the Lords. The revolutionary, or very evolutionary, manner in which they went about matters 3carcely allowed the electors time to

come to a calm decision to support them, and, moreover, it must.be admitted that Mr Asqwth's utterances were both very meagre and unsatisfactory in regard to what he proposed to establish in place of the Lords as at present constituted. We are, however, firmly convinced of the accuracy of the opinion expresead I the Earl of Derby, according ' a cablegram received yesterda.,. His Lordship said that whatever parly was in power the Rouse of Lords must undergo some change. This is, we believe, the true view—drastic reform of the House of Lords is inevitable at an early date.