THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 6

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

POSSIBILITIES AHEAD. Sir,—ln your issue of January 6 you comment in your "Notes of the Day" on "a violent appea." irom a correspondent with reference to the danger of this country being put into the hands of extremists. His letter was probably "violent" in its terms in order that it might gaiu notice, and the appeal evidently readied your heart, aud you were moved to confess to "uneasiness."

You state that apparently the party truce will not be extended beyond next session of Parliament—that, I take it, means that the geiittral election will be fought, as in England, between the Coalition and the rest. If that is so, sir, is it not right that your paper, which is the organ that in pre-war days supported the Reform Party, and during the war has upheld, the Coalition Government, should use its columns to further the interests of the Government?

A now power has arisen, and is hammering hard at the gates of office. What will, this country become if that party gains entrance to officer' Mr. Semple has told us in plain languago what will be done—grab and confiscation will be the policy. In short, the goose that lays thegolden egg will have its neck wrung. If Sir. Semple's party grab the land, where shall we all be? Personally, 1 hope to be able to "up stakes and away" in time. Sir, may we look to the daily Press for guidance and education in this time of waiting for the election? "Will you give us the information that will show us and convince us that Mr.' Semple's platform is wrong, and that his party is inimical to the welfare of this country? Will you give lis the lesson and hammer it in to us week in and week out through the period to the. general election, till when the time comes for us to vote we shall do so without hesitation the way' you have pointed ? Propaganda, Sir, has been a big weapon in the Allies' fight against Germany— cannot you follow this and soak into us the right ideas and show us the holes in the extremists' armour?

: If I am wrong in my contention thnt there will lie a Coalition Party at the general election, then the position is more complicated still, as between the two parties the common enemy may slip in. The war' is virtually over, cable news is scarce—now, Sir, is the time to pile propaganda' into us. We have got to read it, while we sit at breakfast, in the tram or the train, and what you write, reiterated, must stick at last.—l am,.etc., LONDONIENSIS.

January 7. [The danger aliead is that which our correspondent mentions towards the close of his letter—the splitting of the existing Coalition and a triangular fight-.which will piny into the hands of the extremists. The suggestion as to propaganda work las not been overlooked.]