TAURANGA REFORM VICTORS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 108, 8 May 1923, Page 7

TAURANGA REFORM VICTORS

THE WIDER ASPECT

MR. MASSEY AND THE IMPERIAL

CONFERENCE.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 29th March,

New Zealanders in England very naturally awaited news of the result of the Tauvanga election with anxiety, knowing how much depended on it. Owing to the difference in time between Great Britain and the Dominion the evening papers of yesterday (ths day of the election) were able to. announce the Reform candidate's Victory. "The Times" this morning reviews the situation. "The victory of Mr. Macmillan, the Government candidate for Tauranga," it is stated, "may have an influeuce on Imperial politics far beyond the shores of New Zealand. Since the elections early in December, Mr. Massey's position in the House has been precarious. His Government counts only thirty-eight followers in a House 'of eighty, and when the Liberal Party launched its vote of no confidence the Prime Minister only scrambled to safety by the grace of three Independent members of the Opposition. The plight of the Reform Party became still more dangerous with the death-of Sir William Henries, the member for Taurauga, and a supporter of Mr. Massey, who was as loyal as ho was able. It is little wonder, then, that Mr. Massey announced that if the verdict of Tauranga went against him a request to the Governor-General for another dissolution would probably be his next move. The small community of the Dominion could ill have afforded the expenss and the inconvenience of two General Elections within four months, and the fact that there is little real difference of policy between the Reform Party anu the Liberal Party would have made a second appeal to the people, almost ridiculous. We believe that Mr. Massey's statement that he will now be able to carry on with his present majority will be welcomed throughout New Zealand. From an Imperial point of view, however, there was a factor in the situation which far transcended the possible effect of defeat upon the Government's course of action. Mr. Massey's extremely embarrassing position has had its natural influence upon his attitude towards the proposal for a meeting of the Imperial Conference early in the autumn, and New Zealand is the only Dominion which, so far, has not expressed its intention of being represented. Sir Joseph Ward's re-entry into .politics was a direct challenge to Mr. Massey, and the victory at Tauranga is an emphatic vote of confidence in the Prime Minister. The failure of Sir Joseph Ward to return to the arena in which he once played so honourable a part may be regretted, but it is to be hoped that the strengthening of the Prime Minister's postion. will now enable him to take bis place at the council table of the Empire. At a time when the whole structure of the Empire is gradually undergoing change, the unswerving loyalty, the essentially British ideals, and the sound common sense of the people of New Zealand, expressed through their Prime Minister, would be invaluable in helping to ensure that the alteration of the structure does not make for weakness."