SUPPORT FOR THE LEADER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 8

SUPPORT FOR THE LEADER

Having had two years,' experience in the office of Prime Minister, Mr. Coates has passed the trial stage. He is no longer an untried man, for whom his friends predict brilliant success and his opponents dismal failure. In the two years he has done something to falsify both extreme views of his capacity. Some who expected him to over-ride economic laws have been disappointed, and tend to go to the other extreme now in blaming him for the price of money and the fall in produce values. Others, who expected less, have been more pleasantly surprised, particularly by the way in which he upheld New Zealand traditions at the Imperial Conference and by the promptitude with which he put this Dominion in the right by his Naval Defence proposals. We have not space here, nor is it altogether fitting after two years of office, to review the Prime Minister's record. One fact, however, may be emphasised to the discerning. However - energetic or brilliant or gifted a leader may be, his success will always be regulated by the quality of the support which he receives. From the country Mr. Coates received numerical support in full measure at the General Election; but that is not all that is required. The House of Bepresentatives as at present constituted is not a strong legislative body. It is weak in constructive criticism and weak in resolution. It relies too much upon a few front benchers, and when it receives a good lead (as in tho establishment of the Agricultural College) it cries out for compromise. There are certain lines of policy upon which, in our opinion, it is essential that the lead should come from the Government; but there must be assurance of support when that lead ia given. The responsibility lies mainly upon the Prime Minister; but it is not his alone. The people also have a duty to see that their representatives aro men of calibre, who will welcome a courageous policy and stand firmly behind it.