NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 299, 18 September 1928, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

Denials and contradictions notwithstanding, the United Party after all has bestowed its leadership upon the veteran member tot Invercargill, Sir Joseph Ward. The public had been led to expect something different. The high-flown publicity of the patty organisers conveyed the impression of an abundance of material within the ranks of the party out of which the choice of a Leader could easily be made. Hints have been dropped of a vague and shadowy, yet impressive personality hovering on the outskirts ot politics who would be called on to fill the role and bung new i e and vigour into our public life. Alas, for such hopes. Ihe gentleman chosen was not even a member of the United laity and has passed the hey-day of his political activities Mith all his estimable personal qualities Sir Joseph Ward is hardly the man to-day to lead a forlorn hope. J * At the same time it must be conceded that the party possibly took the easiest way out of a difficult position. What other could it have made and maintained any semblance of unity. v\nat partv could choose between Mr. Forbes, Mr. Veitch,, and Mr. Ransom with any hope of reconciling the conflicting mtetests. As it is it seems to have been necessary to appoint two deputy-leaders as a sort of consolation prize to smooth the way to an amicable agreement; these honours, it is understood, going to Mr Forbes and Mr. Ransom. Why Mr. Veitch should again be passed over, after all his hard organising work, is difficult to understand. Possibly the office of president of the party, bestowed on him, is regarded as a more fitting acknowledgment of his services. * * * . * What must immediately strike the student of politics in connection with the new United Party is the old familiar names of its leading figures. It is the same old group, with the offices a little shuffled round, which abandoned the name of Liberal in days of adversity, and every twelve months or so since has found a new name to conceal its past deficiencies. It is true that Sir Joseph Ward up to the present has scorned such subterfuges.. He has throughout stuck loyally to his political designation of Liberal, even though in the last two sessions of Parliament he sat in lonely isolation. Now he, too, has succumbed to temptation, and the name of Liberalism lies buried in the past. So. far as the influence of the new party on the political situation is concei tied, it is quite obvious that its chief effect will be to split votes and play into the hands of Mr. Holland and his Labour-Socialist following. Electors who do not wish to see a Labour-Socialist Government in office would be well advised to keep this fact steadily in mind. * * * * Probably at no time in the history of aviation has the Press of the Dominion given so much prominence to ait matters as during the past few weeks. For the first time, the full significance of air transport has been impressed on the people of New Zealand, and there is ample evidence available that New Zealanders ate just as "air minded” as the residents of any other country. Owing, to its comparative isolation, the Dominion has not shown, that spirit of enterprise in regard to aviation that characterises its activities in most other directions. The visit of the Southern Cross, however, has been productive of much good in arousing a desire to keep pace with the air development of the world. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his colleagues have stated that they are endeavouring to spread the gospel of aviation. The ready response to their teachings and example in the Dominion should, therefore, be one of their happiest memories of the visit. To-day, when the airmen are scheduled to leave Wellington, a meeting has been called to establish an aviation club in the Capital City. The visit of the airmen has also spurred the authorities to action in regard to the establishment of a flying ground, which will no doubt be commenced at an early date.