THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10466, 2 November 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

During the next few weeks, New Zealand will' be in the throes of oneof the most desperate and momentous Parliamentary elections whioh have been held since the granting of the Constitution by the Imperial Government. The issues involved are of such immense importance that the country is> regai-dlng them, with.more than ordinary seriousness. On the one hand we have an Administration which has controlled the political destiny for a period of twenty years. This party, which arrogated to itself the title of "Liberal," did excellent work for a period, and placed upon the Statute- Book a numiher of measures which have more.or less tended to ameliorate the condition of the people and assisted in the development of the country. In recent years,- however, this party has developed an autocratic form of government, and has violated the priuciple» which the late Mr Ballance and his colleagues enunciated, in so -flagrant and persistent a- menner, that it has, in the opinion of a great mass of the people, forfeited all claims to the confidence of a democratic community. It has, in fact, exhausted its power for usefulness, and has become a political derelict, floating hither and thither at the will of every breeze of expediency. On the great issues "which at present concern the people, such

as the laud question and local government reform, the Ward Administration has .shown itself utterly incapable of framing legislation in conformity with public sentiment. It is devoid of a policy, and trusts only upon reputation made by others for a continuation of support. On the other hand we find a live and virile Opposition, full of animation and ( patriotism, imbued with a desire to , see this grand country develop on j sound economic linos, offering a de- ' mocratic Liberal policy with which, were he living to-day, the; late Mr Ballance would have been proud to be identified. Between this policy and. the policy of the Opposition of twenty years ago, there is absolutely no connection. The men who to-day are fighting beneath the Refovm Party's banner are chiefly young New Zealanders, animated with a desire to see the country develop on right lines, opposed to autocracy and extravagance, and geiiruinely anxious to place the interests of the Dominion befoTTr those of cellf-aggrandisement. Nine-tenths of the community is agreed that the time' has arrived when a change in Administration would be for the permanent good of the State. Nearly everybody recognises the necessity for an investigation of the finanoes of the country and for a cleaningout of the pigeon holes. A vast majority realises that grave ahuses have grown up through the prolonged retention of power of the Continuous Ministry. The only question which is agitating the minds of the people is as to who can bo most advantageously entrusted with the task of straightening out the crooked paths. On this, point there should be very little difficulty in arriving at a conclusion. The Reform Party ha si fought valiantly and consistently for years past *in the interests of clean administration. It has done much to pi-event the privileges of Parliament being usurped by autocratic place seekers, and it deserves to be given the opportunity it- see"k si to-day of effecting reforms in administration which have long been sought, and which are absolutely essential if the prosperity of the country is to continue, and its future is to be assured. It is idle to say that the /Opposition, if returned to power, would repeal those democratic measures which have assisted in ameliorating the condition of the people. No •'■■ administration' would dare do such a thing". It is> absurd, also, to suggest that a party which offers a progressive policy such as that outlined by Mv Massey is- a party of negation. The fact is that no more Liberal and humane policy than that of the Reform Party has been evolved during the past 'decade. The people have the opportunity now of redressing those wrongs which are known to exist, and if they do not avail themselves of this opportunity they will have only themselves to blame if "The credit of the Dominion continues! to siink in the eyes of the outside world and the name of democracy becomes a iby-word and a reproach; -X;