THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 December 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Immediately after the last election, when it was seen that the Liberal Party which had, dominated the affairs of the country for twenty years had been given its despatch, we ventured the opinion that the fight of the future would not be between Liberal and Reform, but between Reform and Labour-Socialism. The whole of the events that have since transpired have strengthened that opinion. The Grey and Lyttelton byelections have demonstrated that the so-called "Liberal" party is no longer regarded as a serious factor in the politics of the country. The Social Decocrats have declared from every platform That they* are out to secure the reins of government in this Dominion. They recognise no other policy than that prepared by which is a policy of appropriating to the State the control of the means of production. They will not hesitate to use either of the present dominant parties to secure their own purpose. In the case of Grey Lynn and Otaki they succeeded by the assistance of the Reformers. In that of Grey and Lyttelton they have to thank the Liberals for their success. And so surely,as the members for Grey Lynn and Otaki threw over the Reform Party when it suited them, just as surely will other Social-Democrats renounce the "Liberals" when the proper time arrives. It is as plain as a pike-staff that the Social-Democrats are playing a deep, and cunning game to es-

tablisli themselves in political power in this country. They may co-operate with the Wardites to overthrow the Masseyites, in the hope of gaining an advantage. But their objective is just the same. If they were to succeed in getting Sir Joseph Ward into power, they would use him for the time being to gain their own selfish ends, and when the psychological moment arrived they would oust him from office. It is almost amazing that an old campaigner like Sir Joseph Ward cannot see that he is being made a tool of by the SocialDemocrats of the country. What would happen if, by any mischance, the ''Liberals" and Social-Democrats were to constitute a majority in the next Parliament? Is it not as plain as plain can be that Sir Joseph Ward would bo at the mercy of a handful of extremists, and that lie would be compelled to do their bidding or go out of office? Does Sir Joseph, in his heart of hearts, consider that such a condition of affairs would be in the best interests of the country ? We venture the opinion that there is no more community of interest between Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Macdonald, Mr A. M. Myers, Mr Vigor Brown and the moderate section of the so-called "Liberal" party and the Isiit-Webh-Payne-McOombs combination, than there is between the Reformers and the Red Feds. We put it to Sir Joseph Ward in all seriousness whether he is not called upon to consider his position relation to the future of the Dominion. Is he desirous of seeing the control of this fair country fall into the hands of a body of extremists who would play ducks and drakes with the constitution and destroy the whole social and political fabric? If he is not, he will pause before lie permits any further parleying with the Social-Democrats. The time has arrived when the moderates of the Dominion should take a hand in the working out of their own destiny. They should come to such a compromise as would enable them to nake common cause against that insidious movement that TTas recently asserted itself at Grey and Lyttelton for the overthrow of existing institutions. If this compromise is to be made—and we believe that it is not impossible—immediate steps must be taken. The great bulk of the people throughout the country who support the Reform Party are Liberal at heart. These people can see the trend of politics clearly, and they are sincerely anxious to avert such a combination of diverse elements as would precipitate a national calamity. It is for Sir Joseph Ward and the moderate Liberals to say whether they place self or the country first.