The Press. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908. "RECLAIMING THE GOVERNMENT."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13101, 28 April 1908, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908. "RECLAIMING THE GOVERNMENT."

The visit of Mr Massey to the South Island has had the effect of reminding tho publio that a general election takes place this year, and consequently that it is quite time for the electors to begin to take politics seriously, into consideration if they wish to exercise due influence on the future of the Dominion. The chief issue to be decided next December is whether tho country iato be driven at an accelerated pace ia the direction of Socialism or whether, in tho interests of prudence, a brake is to be applied. In this connection, our able contemporary, the "Otago Daily Times," makes what we most be excused for terming a rather nam- suggestion. It. admits that Mr Massey takes up "an intelligible posi"tion" when he assorts that the Government is 'so closely allied with "step-by-step" Socialists as to render it a duty on the part of prudent eleo- ;/ tors to offer opposition to Ministers. It however, that "thero remains the point aa to whether it would

" not be possible to reclaim the Govern- " ment, to lead it to realise the danger " that it may bo corrupted by evil " associations, and thus to force those '' who would entice it into devious ''courses to become its adversaries."

Far be it from us to throw doubt on tho possibility of reclaiming anybody, least of all the present Government, but tv© should like to know how our contemporary would set about the task which it proposes. It is all very well for Sir Joseph Ward to say that he is opposed to '-revolutionary Socialism," and for his friends to aesert that in reality he is a pillar of prudence and conservatism, whom we may rely upon to keep tho country out of dangerous ways. "We daresay that in his heart of hearts Sir Joseph Ward sees the dangers of the eourso on which tho Elk, tbe Hoggs, and tho Barclays would embark this colony. But he is a politician, and when we are asked to trust him as a protector against Socialism, wo want to know what he has done in the past, and what ho is doing at present to justify this confidence. Hitherto he has shown every disposition to kow-tow to tho Socialists. When it became necessary for him to reconstruct tho Cabinet, it was from the Single-tax and Socialist sections that he sought his new colleagues. His land legislation is simply a. huge surrender to tho Socialists and the Single-taxers, which would hay© been still more complete but for tho determined opposition of tho small, but strenuous, band of anti-Socialists in tho House. In dealing with recent labour troubles, tho Ministry has exhibited palpable and indeed pitiable fear of tho Socialistic agitators who are doing their best to wreck tho Arbitration Act, and embitter tho relations between employers and employed. It will bo seen that there is plenty of room for reclamation in Sir Joseph Ward as a politician. But how is the reclamation to bo brought about? Not by those who beliovo ia individualism laying down their arms, and ceasing to struggle for their principles, in the comfortable assurance that in some nndefined and unaccountable way Sir Joseph Ward will turn his back on his past and prove a 6taunieh individualist in tho future. Tho only way to reclaim a politician is to make him respect your strength. If the new House shows an accession of numbers among those who object to seeing taxation used as a mcro moans ot bringing everybody down to the lowest level, we may be suro that the effect will bo seen in the legislation of tho next Parliament, and quite possibly in tue composition of the new Ministry. Wo do not believe in coalitions if they can be avoided, but we can quite conceivw a situation arising in whioh it might bo necessary tor individualists in th* Ministerial party to combine with tho Opposition individualists to save tho country from being hurried headlong down a Socialistic decline. Tho first essential even of such a solution is that the present Opposition shall be strengthened in numbers. The idea that a force fighting against Socialism can succeed by first allowing itself to be attenuated in numbers, if not. absolutely wiped out, is too absurd for serious argument. But if Sir Josepn Wand is ready to stand forward as tbo opponent of Socialism, we have no hesitation in saying that ho oould count on cordial support from the Opposition side of tho House. Let it be clearly understood, however, that what is wanted is not mere lip-service—not vaguo disclaimers of '"revolutionary Socialism," coupled with adherence to something else which arrives in time at the Socialistic goal, oven if it be by a more or less devious route. Sir Joseph. Ward cannot expect to be taken seriously as an anta-Socdalist when ho gives the Government support 10 tho Hoggs, tho Ells, and tho Barclays, and brings, forward other Socialistic candidates to swell their ranks. He must also take us clearly into his confidence as to what limits ho proposes to set to the Socialistic trend of our legislation in tho . future. , In other words,'we want to see some clear signs of genuine reformation before tho antiSocialists arc content, to leave their causo in Sir Joseph Ward's hands. They would bo foolish indeed were they to follow the example of the foolish young woman who gives herself up to a rake, hoping to reform him after marriage.