The Press. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1914. The Opposition " Policy."

Press, Volume L, Issue 15116, 4 November 1914, Page 6

The Press. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1914. The Opposition " Policy."

After two and a half years of waiting, tho public is a-t last presented with tho "policy" of Sir Joseph Ward's party. With tho small minority who had hoped, despite their fears, that "when .tho time came" (in their own timid phrase) the Opposition. Leader's policy "would bo found" to bo stimulating, distinctive, and purposeful, wo feel genuine sympathy. For tho "policy" is not stimulating, not distinctive, not purposeful—it is not a policy at all. Almost tho only parts of it which are likely to bo regarded as good are vague undertakings to do what tho Reform Party is doing and uill continuo to do. ; Tho "extension "arid perfection" of our primary ediir cation, system, tho encouragement of mining, agricultural education and afforestation, the extension of humanitarian legislation, the repression <f monopolies in connexion with food supplies, and tho continuance of land settlement —all these are good proposals, but as items in "Liberal" policy they do not count, for tho "simple Teason that the Reform Party is of tho same mind as the Opposition with respect to them,, and has displayed, more vigour in;carrying out theso obvious duties of any Government than was displayed tho Ward Administration. . Xo particulars arc given of tho promised "cheap money syetem on several lines " controlled by a Bank of Agriculture," . but tho idea, if wo understand Sir J. G. Ward, is ono which Mr Massey has put forward himself. As to the proposal to "take power to prevent trade *' unions being overridden by their " executives," we must await a fuller report of tho speech. For wo cannot believe that such, a proposal could bo made by a politician whose wholo Labour policy was to exalt the Labo-ir union executives over tho individual unionists, and whoso party violently assailed tho Bill in which Mr Mass-iy actually provided eomo protection to unionists through secret ballots. In the meantime it is charitable to assume Sir J. G. Ward has been misreported. The public will bo amazed to read that tho "Liberals" i-onsider that tho extension of railway yards, duplication works, and so on, are necessary, and that half a million a year should bo spent upon them. The echoes havo not yet died away of the torrent of abuse and denunciation which the Opposition poured upon the Government a few days ago for asking authority for works of just this kind! And when wo remember how, within a ■week, the Opposition were clamouring for hours together concerning tho extravagance of the proposed Public Works loan of £3,000,000, what can we think of the Leader of that party wllen he coolly proposes that just that sum should bo borrowed every year for public works? An increase in the graduated land tax, the continuance of the i policy of a naval subsidy, the reduction and limitation of home defence, and a deferred baby-bonus system, make tip the rest of the "policy."

The truth of the matter is that tlie Leader of the Opposition can find no distinctive policy which he dare adopt. The present Government has shown itself honest and democratic; it has restored order in the region of national finance; it has passed a mass ot progre'-sivo and humnno legislation beyond the dreams and beyond tlie

capacities of "Liberalism; it has fthwn itself capable of dealing effi-

cicntly with rriies in war time and in time of peace: it has exposed in all tlicir hollowness tho foolish pleas of the Opposition that I'eform is reactionary. What is there for the "Liberals" to offer in. competition? .Excepting the " deferred nothing. There is only one real party, and ono real policy, other than tho Reform Party and policy, and that is the Social Democratic- Party. It is natural that Sir Joseph "Ward should shrink from an open adoption of that party's policy, but unless lie stands with them, he has, politically, no rai.son detre. "What ho is f]jrhtj"n£ against, jf he but knew it, is, not the Government, but the facts of the His fnnny "policy"—tho fruit of two and a-half years' feverish though"-—makes that perfectly clear. •