THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1913. THE REFORM PARTY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 October 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1913. THE REFORM PARTY.

The second annual conference of the Political Reform League, which has been held at Wellifigtok 'during the ;last, few, day?, will, it is hoped, serve to galvanise* the Reformers throughout. the Doininion to enthusiasm in the cause of good government and pure administration. It cannot be said that during the past year the Reform League has adopted an aggressive attitude. Branches have been formed in various electorates ;up and down the country, but no systematic effort has been made to organise the constituencies. So far as Masterton is concerned, for instance, not more than half-a-dozen people have taken the slightest interest in the League and its work,, and it has been almost impossible to get a meeting of the executive committee. It may be that people have enough of politics during an .election campaign, and are satisfied •to allow Parliamentarians to do the work of organisation. Such a position of affairs is not conducive to • the perpetuation of clean adminietration and to the good government of the country. Tears ago, when the late Mr Seddon came to power. "Liberal" organisations were formed throughout the Dominion, and these i kept themselves in erase" touch with ' Ministers and members of Parliament. 1 Hie branches were alive and active, and their representations and advice were treated with respect To-day, those organisations are almost as dead as Julius Caesar; but a vigorous effort Is to he made to revive them, and there is reason to think that daring "the next few months an organising campaign will be conducted by tho "Lifjerals" fntai

the North Cape to the Bluff. The I Labour Party, although somewhat dis- j integrated, has organisations in almost every township, and it may be taken for granted that these will bo used to overthrow the Reformers. In view of these facts, is it not essential that the Reform Party should be thoroughly organised, that it should secure a strong fighting fund, and that it should be prepared for one of the most desperate conflicts in the history of New Zealand politics? It depends upon the Reformers themselves whether the moderate Liberals shall remain in power, or whether the obuiitry shall be handed over to a combination of Red Federationists and Radicals who would make th<2 position more intolerable th'an it was before the advent of.Reform. Present indications point almost conclusively to an amalgamation of the Radical and Social-Democratic forces. Sir Joseph Ward may be the loader in £ho .election campaign, but if the extreme party were returned to power it would be good-bye to industrial security and established institutions. It behoves moderate men in the community, therefore, to join together to resist the machinations of the extremists. With a sane, sober, and progressive Administration, the outlook.fair the future may lie .regard-, ed .with equanimity. Thorp- is no' room in the politics of this country; for extreme partisans. Once these gained control of the reigns of office, it wofuld be the death-blow to progress and internal development. The Reform Government has displayed a worthy desire to legislate for the good of the people as a whole. If it has to remain in office by the exercise of patronage, and by the misuse of public funds, it will go out on the first appeal to the country. But it is for the very reastin that Mr Massey and his followers despise patronage and corruption that the most strenuous efforts should be made to "retain their services to the Dominion. There was never a time 'when there was greater room for organisation and enthusiasm than at the present. .Let the friends of good government, therefore, organise! organise!! organise!! I