The Political Situation and the War.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15289, 27 May 1915, Page 6

The Political Situation and the War.

In the course of his /recent speech at Kailc.he, Sir J OSeD h AA aril said that ."if the Liberals get into power,; 'they will manage New Zealand's, skjimin the war as efficiently, as the, present Government is doing. AVhothei- any Government which Sir Joseph: Ward could form if he had the making of one, would attend to the discharge 0 f the country's duty as efficiant'ry as the present Government wo ..hfiß allow ourselves to doubt. ' Rule f-here is a much more important: fact, the Leader of the Opposition'a statement requires „ s to mention. <T!aat ho i s just like tho rest of us in wishing that New Zealand shall :do ho- duf.y well in this war, i 3 a truth -which doa • not really need to be stated. But it must bo borne in mind that tho party whj eh is.opposed to the Govern- j

ment is q composite one, and that the basis'of Sir Joseph Ward's hope oi office is the support which ho will receive fro m tho Social Democrats. If tho public will reflect for a moment, they will bo struck with tho fact that tho Soa'ial'Democratic.Party has kept itself conspicuously free from participation, in the sentiment of the public durinj. this struggle, although we are glad -to recognise that many of its rank and file hay© been most patriotic iv offering their services for tho war. Those people who know tho official organ of the party, tho "Maoriland AVorker," kp.ow that it has throughout tlie war run entirely counter to publi© sentiment. Patriotism has been abused in its columns; its I'vcry issue abounds in jeers and insults at the spirit in which tho subjects of tho King aro facing the war; tho King himself i 6 not spared bitter and offensive jibes. In short, its p-ages aro tho meeting place of all those disloyal people who ha to the Imperial spirit, and who are irritated by tho patriotism that has sent thousands of gallant men to the front. Nobody who really faces j

tho facts can doubt that, as an organisation, the Social Democratic Party is an enemy of the spirit upon which tho safety and durability of our Empire depends. It is the representatives of this party,, and the anti-militarists in his own party, to whom th© Leader of the Opposition owes it that he i s able to think of the possibility of replacing Mr Massey, and whoso inclinations he must consult sinco he is not independent of them. AA'e are not optimistic enough, or, rather, blind enough to facts, to think that a Government resting upon the caprices of such elements as those would b© tho sort of Government in whom Now Zealand could feel confidence or pride at this stage of its history. In any event, its sense of tho fitness of things would cause the country to re-

volt from the prospect of government by a party comprising elements entirely discordant with the spirit of the time..