THE OPPOSITION AND LABOUR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13521, 1 November 1911, Page 4

THE OPPOSITION AND LABOUR.

In view of all that has been accomplished for the betterment of tho social and industrial conditions of the workers of New Zealand and for the advancement of the interests of tho Dominion generally, and especially in view of the persistent and often aggravated opposition shown by Mr masscy and his predecessors in the Conservative ranks to the legislation of the past twenty years, it seems strange that there should* be any question now of the Opposition and Labour forces uniting against the Liberals. Yet it is a fact. Tlie position is thus put by tho Lyttelton Times: The Conservatives realise as well as the rest of. us do that there is not the slightest chance of their securing a majority in the now Parliament, and they are naturally ready to make any alliance that would help to minimise tho significance of their inevitable defeat. The leaders of the party have been preparing the way for tho course that is now being openly advocated by its newspaper organs for some time. The story they put in circulation to tho effect that Sir Joseph Ward had proposed an alliance with Ijieniselves for tho purpose of “checking Socialists” was obviously designed to prejudice the workers against the Government. Then wp have, had Mr Massey and his lieutenants with many protestations of sincerity declaring from the platform that their chief object in seeking office is to get the opportunity to ameliorate the condition of tho toiling masses. They -would repeal none of the labour laws, but would ensure their vigorous, honest administration, and would see that the cost of living was reduced. Now the Conservative newspapers are urging that the Opposition should waive its political differences with La bon - —differences that place them as far apart as tho poles—and that the two parties should combine to defeat their “common enemy,” the Liberals. As a beginning poor Mr Moss, who chivalrously offered to make way for Mr Massey at Parnell if the prospects wore sufficiently encouraging, is to be cast aside and the Conservative vote is to bo given to Mr Mack, tho Labour candidate, in opposition to Sir John Findlay. Of course these tactics are not altogether now even in New Zealand, but the idea of an alliance between Conservatism and Labour in this country could not have occurred to anyone who took his politics and his principles very seriously. It is quite possible that a Conservative-Labour combination might win a- few scats from tho Liberals and appreciably reduce the Government’s majority, but when it found itself in Parliament as a coalition Opposition the Labour members who really wished to stick to the compact would ho sadly puzzled to know what to do. Mr F. Cooke could hardly reconcile himself to Mr James Allen's ardent militarism or Mr E. Howard to Mr Fraser’s fiscal policy. Tho two brands of “reformers” would clash at every point, and probably in the end would both welcome a dissolution of the partnership. But so far Labour has taken no part in the bargaining, and we have little doubt ourselves that however dissatisfied it may bo with the Liberals it will prefer them at tho polls, with all their faults, to the Conservatives.