THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1912. WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10673, 1 July 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1912. WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS.

That the politics of iNew Zealand are in. a state of transition', must be obvious to aid, but the prejudiced, observer. The country is heartily sick 'of the system of government by expediency, and of legislation for the classes instead of the masses. While the vote, of .the people ■ ini November last did not record a, .special preference for either of the dominant (parties,, it piade an: (unrnistakeabfo pronouncement in favour of a moderate form of government. Unhappily, the state of parties as it ■exists' does not permit of the v«ice of the electors 'being expressed as it should be. The Mackenzie Administration* as at present constituted, is no' more a reflection of the progressive- public ;sent:ment than -would | be a Massey Ad : min:£trationi which included large dand-holder*. The people j are just ais apprehensive of the large la.nd-awnc.r on the one side as they are of the Radical element on the other. What is really wasted is ,a fusion of the moderate sections cf the Hcuse, so that a istable and progressive Government way be formed. It is idle if or Sir Massey ito suppose" that, if his no-confidence motion were carried, 'and lie were entrusted with the formation of -a Ministry, he 'would be in a much hotter position than iMr Mackenzie is at present. It is true thalt he would be aiblc to form a Cabinet whosa views on the major question® o'f the day would more closely approximate with his own- than is the caise with Mr Mackenzie and his colleagues. Bxrt that would not ensure him sufficient support in. the House to enable liim to carry into effect the progressive. Li=beral policy he enunciated before the elections. Mr Mackenzie 'has asked that iiiis Ministry be given a fair trial; but he has lio right to make that request when he knows that the Minis- i -try haisi not the support of a majority | ■in the House. The position altogether j is as delicate as dt is unique in the ■history of the •Dominioni. How can- th.?

Ceaulocl: be cverccmc-? If there coul'd Ibe any guarantee that an ap.pea. to thecountry would dear the atmosphere, one would be tempted to suggest fb : e> •as an alternative. But as tho pr>lic:y of the two great parties is so nearly iitenucal, ano* as personality .rather (tlian politics: wouxl crater 'into the discussion, it is cibvionis that another election 'would not produce a rao.ro elear:ly defined i&tate cf parties. It wi)!l be urged that if the electoral system were ailtoiied. the 'Cqiulibnium would be restored. Tin's lis purely a matter' for conjecture. In any case, there is no party strong enough alt present to produce a satisfactory arne'iulnient cf th: j > electoral system, the only practical solution! of the existing problem -is the isacrinoing of individuality to general principle. The ifact that iMr M-adcem-zie has abandoned everything that was ; ,Radical in hk predecessor's; policy, and ha.s (adopted several planks which appeal to the .moderate section cf the ! Opposition, shows that .he correctly interprets the feeling of tho ccua-try, and is willing to legislate accordingly. He is confronted with the fact, ho-w----1 ever, that iliis own ..pohey is inconisitstenit with the views cf the .majority of -his- supporters. It 'would be absurd, therefore, for him to expect advances in: the way of coalition <ta .be ' made iby the Opposition. As the crux of the whole question at the present timo is the settlement cf the land, a compromise might be arranged by the convening of a caucus of these memj ibers favouring closer .settlement, the : .speedy occupation of Crown and Native lands, and the freehold tenures. This would at once draw a clear line of demarcation between the moderate liberals and the extremists. Mr Mackenzie: could then tender his ,rc.sign.attion, and place himself, with' Mr Massoy, unreservedly in the hands of the caucus. If this were done, and the caucus were to elect the whole of the Ministry,, there would bo no doubt that a, .Government 'Wo.ii.ld be formed' which, i would have the confidence of the country 'and a, guarantee of someithilnig Pike permanence of tenure cf office. We make this suggestion, to l tlie of b'cth sides of the t house, in full confidence that it would ! offer a (reasonable solution to the existing problem.