The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1911. THE FIGHT FOR REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1173, 7 July 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1911. THE FIGHT FOR REFORM.

There can be no excusc after last night's meeting at the Town Hall for a continuance of the misrepresentation which has been persisted in for so long as to the policy of the Reform party. The party has found so much room for criticism in the administration of the Ward Government that it is not surprising that its opponents should seize on this fact as a pretext for professing to believe, even in the face of positive evidence to the contrary, that the members of the Opposition have nothing but destructive criticism to offer. We suppose that, notwithstanding the constructive platform presented by Mr. Massey to the large and enthusiastic meeting at the Town Hall last evening, many of the Ministerialists will still persist in their parrot cry, and no doubt a proportion of the public will continue to be misled thereby. The great hulk of the electors, however, cannot fail to perceive that they are offered an opportunity of choosing between a Government which has 'exhausted its term of usefulness and is barren of ideas beyond the deep-rooted determination to cling to office at any cost, and a party which has a definite, a sound, and a progressive programme to offer. There is hardly a person in the community at the present time who does not feel that there is something wrong in the country's administration. ' The position was well put tho other clay by the member for Wellington .Central, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, in the form of a question: "Can you tell me how it is," he asked, "that the more prosperous we hecome the more we borrow ? And the more we borrow the more we are taxed ?" And to this may be added the further -question : "Where must this state of things lead us to?" Thoughtful people have long realised that the course followed by tho Ward Ministry is fraught with grave risks to the country's future —that the huge borrowing, the spendthrift spending, and the wasteful administration must be stopped, and a return made to sound financial methods. • Even friends and supporters of the Government have admitted this, but they have been misled as to the attitude of the Reform party on various issues, and so have shirked taking the final stop towards securing a change of Government. The platform placed before the country by Mr. Massey 011 behalf of the Reform party last evening should remove any vestige of doubt as to the intentions of the party if successful at the coming general elections. For . the first time for many years the electors have had placed before them a definite political programme covering practically all the subjects requiring immediate attention at the hands of Parliament, and that programme not only gives a plain and unmistakable undertaking of a reversion to sound and honest administration, but it also discloses a broad and progressive spirit in respect of tile mo?t vital questions of the moment affecting all classes of the community. The-full text of the platform will be found in our report of last night's meeting, and need not be repeated here. It will be admitted, however, even by those who may disagree in part or in whole with the policy of the Reform party, that tho party have evidenced the courage of their convictions by stating clearly and definitely what they pledge themselves to perform. They, unlike the Ministry, are prepared to stand or fall by their convictions; they, unlike the Ministry, take the public into their confidence respecting their intentions; they, unlike the Ministry, have a definite policy; and they, unlike the Ministry, are prepared to forego the opportunities for political patronage and the bribery of electorates, which evil practices in later years have alone enabled tho Ward Government to cling to office. Sound and cautious finance; popularised land settlement provisions; improved conditions in the public service; a simple plan of local government reform, eliminating also the existing wasteful methods of public works expendiindustrial and social legislation in the direction of promoting industrial peace and stimulating industrial enterprises—such a programme holds out a rosy promise after the aimless drift_and hasty improvisations of the Ministry during the past three years.

It is in one respect an advantage that the platform of the Reform party has been presented without any attempt at fancy phrasing and without any sacrifice of clearness for the sake of effect:'- A plain matter of fact statement of the objects and intentions of the party will come as a welcome relief after the wearisome heroics and flowery, hut unsubstantial, professions of Ministers. The enthusiasm with which the platform was received by the large audience in the Town Hall last evening bearstestimony to the frame of mind of the public in Wellington at the present time. Mr. Massey was not at his best—he attempted to compress too much into his speech, and went over his time in order to deal with details which could well have been left for another occasion. But every point that he made against the Government, every telling hit- in favour of his party, was the signal for outbursts of approval, a fitting finale being reached when a resolution thanking Mn. Massey for his speech and urging the removal of the Government from office was carried amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. The reception given the Reform party's programme by the citizens of Wellington last evening should encourage and stimulate the efforts of their supporters all over the conntry. It marks a distinct advance in their campaign work, and should broaden tnc field in which they may look for sympathy and support, and strengthen their hold on the confidence of the public, both within and beyond the Dominion.