Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1915. PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2732, 30 July 1915, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1915. PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY.

The Press advocates of both Opposition- and Reform parties having expressed "profound disappointment" at the collapse of the coalition negotiations, it remains now for the party primarily interested —the public—to consider what should be done in order to ensure the harmonious •^transaction- of the country's business. We hold no brief either for Mr Massey or Sir Joseph Ward. The difference in their .political Views is so slight that it would not in any way affect the administration should either be nt the head' of the Government. But it is impossible to read Sir Joseph Ward's letter of July 28 and not come to the conclusion that in declining the Premier's very fair and reasonable offer ho was assisting, not political peace, not the'sinking of individuality and party (as Mr Bonar Law nnd his colleagues did), but the maintenance of political conditions that cannot fail to embarrass the Government. And if the Government is hampered in the prosecution of its duty in connection with the war, then on Sir Joseph Ward, and not on Mr Massey, the responsibility will rest. The crux of , Sir Joseph's objection to, tho-Pre-mier's proposals is that he dc-

dines to concede to Mr Massey the right, to'- nominate the six Government members of the proposed Rational Cabinet. And on the logic of that objection he must be judged. The whole tenor of his letter clearly indicates that he is not prepared to sacrifice in the slightest degree any advantage his party possesses, and if Mr Massey is not prepared to accept his '•'heads 1 win, tails you lose '* proposal, then he must try and run the country without the aid of the Opposition. "You and your party desire all the power and prestige attaching to a strong Government during a grave war crisis," lie writes, " while at the same time relying upon and expecting the Opposition to accept full responsibility with a,minority of members in the Cabinet." . In other words, Sir Joseph Ward is not prepared to take the same broad view of the political situation in a " grave crisis " that Mr Bonar Law, Lord Lansdowne, and Mr Balfour have taken. "The transformation,", wrote Mr Asquith, in connection with the British Coalition . Government, "implies a temporary abandonment of the system of. party Government which has ever since 1832 dominated' our political arrangements, and which I hold to

be, under normal conditions, the best adapted to our national requirements." And yet, in face of political traditions nearly a century old, and in spite of a political faith of a lifetime, so eminent a statesman was prepared to place the interests of his country first. There seems to have been an impression amongst members of the Liberal Party that the formation of a National Government would have stifled criticism; but one only needs to read the reports of recent happenings in the House of Commons to realise that' the coalition there has not had that effect. The criticism of the Government, especially during the past few days, has been particularly trenchant. And to argue that similar action would not be possible here is to admit that the criticism of the New Zealand Opposition is based wholly and solely on party grounds. It is hardly likely that Mr Massey will make another offer to the Opposition. He has gone as far as the dignity of his office will allow. And whatever the political results, it is quite certain that the decision of the Opposition to place tho party's interests before those of the country will alienate a good deal of the sympathy of thoughtful people.

Since the above was written there has been a further develop-, merit of the situation, in the shape of intervention by his -Excellency the Governor,!who has requested the leaders of both parties to meet him in conference on Monday next. If Lord Liverpool can succeed in inducing the parties to unite for the common good during the continuance of the war he will earn the thanks of all who honestly desire that political creeds shall give place to the pressing necessities of the Empire.