PRESS OPINIONS ON THE POLL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 8

PRESS OPINIONS ON THE POLL

GROWTH OF THE REFORM VOTE IN THE NORTH , LABOUR PARTY'S WAR ATTITUDE 'By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Auckland, December 18. Commenting • on the results of yesterday's polling, the "Herald" states:—"Sir Joseph 'Ward's defeat leaves the traditional Opposition leaderless. The thinning of its ranks reduces its importanco to that of a more Parliamentary group. Its continuance as a separate entity is by no means assured. This election emphasises that the trend of political development is towards two partios, one extremo and the other moderate. 'Xhero is no room for a second moderati) party, and tlfo future of the group which includes Messrs. Myers, MaeDonald, and Wilford must givo occasion for heartsearching among- its members," 'Iho "Herald" goes on to say that Mr. Jlassey's "success in no sense means the , endorsement of overy member of the Cabinet. It will be Mr. Massey's duly j to gather around him the strongest , Ministry ho can form and to concentrate its energies upon Iho development of the country's 'natural resources." ( Referring to the Auckland City constituencies, the "Herald" remarks: "Thereis one. new electorate within the bound:) of Greater Auckland, and the total.votes cast in the six city seats are about SWW more .than were recorded in five cuiistitu- , encies in 19,14. The distribution according to party is indicated by tlho following figures:— i MM. 1919. Reform ' 15,319 21,507 Liberal 20,797 11,575 Labour 4,634 16,170 . There are several striking features about this table. Labour has almost quadrupled the votes claimed by it in 1914, but against this must set the cnnsiilern- | tion that it is now much belter organ- . iscd and contested .six seats ns v tijj.iinsl two in 1911. Hardly )e?s significant mi- ' der the circumstances is the growth ut the Reform vote by over COOO. Reform is to-day decidedly the dominant puliiicnl j sentiment in Auckland City, That it ■ holds only two seals against three won | by Labour is due to the cireiimst.mci:, that its strength was spent lavg.'ly in j swelling .Ihe heavy mmtinticK won in i IfflsWl rflhi'-ParneU."- Tniyc was nu more . intere.-itiiig contest in ihe city than that between Mr. Myers and bis soldier op- I pnnnnt. The factors in the if sun w.-io on (lie one hand ';ho deserved n nutation of Mr. Myers for public service of a vcy : high order, and on the othe:' hand llui jrreatly-inci-oai-et! slreiigili of the IWoun toto and' ths popularity of the l-ariy'.-i 'xuuliilaia.. lln- Jiliulunssia. Laa auiuffitdjLj

a notnblp feat the n njority of so vedonblnhlp an opponent from 2507 to a little over 100." Tho "Star" (Liberal) says:—"Liberalism in New Zealand had to carry Labour's sins on its back, and Labour vould do well to reflect to-day what this will tceun. It is largely because iis a party Labour would not do its'duty in the war, applauded the shirker and not iho soldier, and showed moro solicitude for beaten Germany than lor li'iuealen Germany's victims" that tho Liberal Party has shrunk to seventeen members and that llr. Massey seems assured of an Absolute majority over all his opponents. By its blindness and perversity during the war > and its insistence on splitting the anti. i Ueform vote in a number of electorates, t thereby letting a Reformer in on a n inor- ) ity vote, Labour has fastened lieform on > this country for at lenst another threo ) years. It hopod to hold tho balance of ) power in the new House, but it has <'<>■ ■ stroyed the • possibility of tl.ere being i such a balance. Liberalism is not dead, i and in tho hour of defeat it need not be > bitter. An opponent of Mr. Massey 1 may feel compelled to refer plainly_ to certain nspects of the election, but r.ay | to wish him well in his now lca.se of power and to express the hopo that all three parties may sink every difference that is not vital ind work together for tho good of tho country. ' An appeal for united effort for the national good is apo'-opriatc to the season, and the Liberals may hope, amid their natural disappointment, that JJr. Massey's words in the hour cf success aro a good omin for the outcome of the political work that lies ahead." CHRISTCHURCH OPINION. By Telegraph-Special Correspondent. t Christchurch, December 18. The "Press" says: "The country is to be congratulated upon its splendid response to the appeal of the Government under the gallant leadership of Mr. Massey and upon the wrecking of the YVardist Party. Mr. Massey has secured an absolute majority in the House, and tho country is secure against tho peril of a combination of Liberals and Labour representatives. The result is a great personal triumph for tho Prime Minister, who stands higher in the public estimation, and regard to-day than ever. Those who are in very close touch with politics know that iii .September last the outlook for tho Government was not gocd, but the firmness and resolution with which Mr. Massey took hold of desperate situntion and turned a hopeless .looking session into a cession of useful and necessary work made a very deerj impression upon tho public mind. There aro thousands of good and sincore peonle amongst those who yesterday voted for Wardist candidates who will grieve over the collapse oi me party thoy have long supported, , and over the sensational personal defeat of the leader of that party. Wo do not think that they need'grieve for long, or that they will. Those of them who lovo true Liberalism as Gladstoniau Liberals did and do, will find speedy consolation in the fact that Liberal principles have not suffered through the renewal of Mr. v Mnsscy's term of office, and havo gained through tho extinction of that opportunist force which we call .Wanlism. The fundamental common sense of tho people h, revealed also by their treatment of ?!'• Joseph Ward's absurd prom'ses of " --'foal and economic heaven for evefj-"-<--" •>•• the exceedingly cheap price or n •' ""•- Tt will be a long time before r. politician ever attempts again, to no-Tuade the people of this country ths: ■ry'gr things can be dono without Eoriovs labour, that something can be got for nothing, or that the impossible can be accomplished at all.- Complete succor has been late in ccmin.fr to the Prime Minister, but everyone will see that the country must profit from its wisdom in entrusting its affairs to a nolitieal leader who has slowly and steadily made his way, anil whose political character and strength have como to their best in the maturity of his career. . To quarrel with the masn'ficent victory won \v Heform yesterday would be to ouarrel with the character of the nation." The "Sun" says tho election is a groat personal triumph for Mr. Massey. Tho electors have expressed their preference for him over his opponent in very striking fashion, and have placed him in a position of great power and responsi- I bility. Wo think ho can be trusted to fill it with dignity and ability. Passing years have wrought- a great change in the Prime Minister. Like Mr. Seddon, he entered Parliament with nearly everything to learn; his ideas were crude, ho was impulsive of speech, and often said and did tho wrong thing for want of knowledge and lack of reflection, but ho proved an apt pupil in the Parliamentary school, and to-day ho is a tactful, resourceful lender, with a broadened outlook and grasp of public affairs that is unequalled amongst his contemporaries in tho House. If ho will set 'himself out as we think ho will to deal with public questions in a liberal and progressive spirit, he and his party- should enjoy a useful term of office, and should be able to. look forward with equanimity to meeting the electors threo years hence. Tha wreck of tho Liberal Party is duo in our opinion to the apprehension felt in country districts at the possible Lib-eral-Ked Fed. combination, and to tho fact in tho large centres of population whore the cost of living is, felt moro keenly than it is in the country, the 'bulk of the workers determined to ex- , press their dissatisfaction by voting for Labour. Liberalism had nothing to i offer the community, except the 6pecious promises contained in Sir Joseph Ward's manifesto, promises which obviously could not be carried out. Before it can expect to rehabilitate itself it must find a now leader, and'a new policy, and neither is to be found growing on tho nearest' gooseberry busfh. Tho personal defeat of Sir Joseph Ward is of courso 'the sensation of tho elections. Six months ago it looked as if Sir Joseph Ward had a. great opportunity, but ho played his cards very badly, and unless we aro very much mistaken, his political career is closed. Tho voting in Bruce is also impressive. Sir James Allen 'has narrowlv escaped defeat, and in spito of 'his distinguished' services it looks as if the electors had not forgotten his harsh administration of tho Defence Department during the war, and tho methods of some of his officers. In view of the stato of parties to-day, little moro will probably bo heard of the fusion proposals, but wo still think that it would be in the interests of tho Dominion if Mr. Massey in the hour of victory, made an effort to win over the Liberals with a view of utilising tho services of the leading members in tho Ministry. This would havo tho effect of placing Labour officially in opposition, V and would gather the non-Labour forces into one camp which would Ire impregnable for a very long time against the attacks of the extremists, and would give security and conditions favourable to tho progress and development of tho Dominion." ~ , ~ The "Lyttelton Times," after admitting that the' results of the elections givo Mr. Massey a good majority, goes on to say: "Whether the new Parliament is tho choice of the majority of the electors is another question. Jl •would be nncandid for us to deny wo are disappointed, for we had hoped to see the Conservative Party defeated and a progressive policy put into operation as soon as possible. We dislike and distrust the Peform Party,- and our feelings are founded upon long observation and acquaintance. Mr. Massey and his friends, however, claim to _ have been converted to democratic principles by Hie practical object lessons which they havo received of the virtues and benefits of the legislation passed against their wishes by Governments presided over by Balance, Scddon, and Ward. It is even claimed fof Mr. Massey, strangely , enough, tlint he is "feeddonian. ' It lie has the will to justify that claim he certainly has the opportunity in the Parliament' elected yesterday. Tossibly the ; Prime Minister will realise his responsibilities to the whole of the people and ; try to forget he now merely represents , wealth and land roonnnoly. Experience has certainlv taught Mr. Mnssev astuteness, and if he is asniring as his admirers would hnvo us believe to wear the mantle of Mr. fWdon he limy demo- , erati'f his mind and his methods, ftealis- , inn that Mr. Massey will have the dc«- | time* of the •.ountrv verv largely in i his hands during the next three years < we earneslh- hope Hint he will reallv trv to justify the trust thnt is imposed in him and'tho claim wide on his behalf that he is democratic."