NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 13 April 1929, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

REVIEW BY HON. W. H. TRIGGS

FUTUBE POSSIBILITIES

(Fron "The Post's" Representative.) , LONDON, sth March.

In an article in 'the.-March- issue of the "National Review,"-, the '. Hon. W. H. Triggs discusses at length the "Political Debacle in New 'Zealand." ■ The article is the most enlightening, statement on the ■subject that has yet been published in.this country. . . ■

Keferring- to .the. choice. of Sir Joseph Ward as leader, Mr.'" Triggs, says:— ,

It ,was like asking; a.man;to take the leadership of a forlorn hope,' but;:as the result showed, it was a H'ery astute move. Sir Joseph was an old political campaigner and: knew every move of. the game. Perhaps even more, valuable .than.his experience was what the Maoris cailhis ."mana" —the prestige attaching to him as .a former Prime Minister, # a sound.. Imperialist, and, although ' his"political ''opponents have never admitted; the.truth; of this attribution, ail able financier.,. As,he was kne ,vn to Save larg^ Commercial, interests ■ hinir self, the lawyers, merchants, .and others,., who' had, been complaining'of'."Socialism'' on the-part of Mr. Coates,'arid,"too much pampering of the farmers,", thought Sir ■Joseph, would,. from-, their point' of' .view, be a miich (safer man'to have at the head of the Government.: The pluck'of the old warrior, stricken; in health,',gallantly taking the field again won'the admiration and enlisted the sympathy, of a good .many. ." THE LOAN" PROPOSALS.,; C '. Although, business men were unable to see how; Sir Joseph/could possibly, lend money to settlers at 4%; per cent, without auy deficiency to.be met :by.the. taxpayers, Mr. Triggs goes on-to.say;—",. , ! :■ AVith the masses the:.proposal, to-spend so much borrowed money evidently proved a.powerful liaiti They saw' hi", it plenty of employment and a- general-inflation of values, very acceptable/to 'those .desirous of selling their properties or. imbued with -a. speculative spirit., It was/, useless for the Reformers to say that./ Sir Joseph's .promises could not be;' carried ' out, and what was wanted, was. to continue the present careful policy, of-steady development, tapering off borrowing, arid ;working earnestly to, .make New .Zealand as-nearly, i possible independent of- outside' borrowing in the future. .The £70,000,000 proved an, irresistible. lure, and, .combined with other causes, brought'about, a;.CQiriplete: rout .of the Government at.the.polls. " ';■■ ■

1 .'The writer.igoes on'.fco'nieution a.nura-- ■■ ber. .of other possible for Mr; ! Coates's reverse. ;He proceeds:—/; ; :.; ■ Mr. Coafcos met the reverse,in tke'franky ■ soldierly fashion which was only what his friends expected of him,"but' which- excited the opeuly. expressed admiration of. his political opponents. He galled Parliament together at the earliest possible nio-; ment, and, brought down ' a' 'Governor's Speech,- asking for' the decision of; Parliament in regard to the position which had arisen. . When the House- met, he said, 1 very simply, that he felt •no'humiliation ■ over the action ' of: the "electors. He had • done, .his best, :and. put .up^the;. best light he' could.'; He could have put .forward some attractive 'and alluring .ideas/, but that . had not been his concern; he had thought :" of the interest: of the country as-a whole.' He was a New Zealander born' and bred; he> had worked for -„.- New'- Zealand, and would, continue to- do; so\ if the' people so desired. He would place himself-, above party where the interests of the .country were; concerned,- and lie ibeljeved every . gentleman round him wbuld^do.the same.!; ■ :;:,-''A'' v.' JV'-;THE:.FUTLiRE: 1;?; . ; ■•' VJ: -As regards the 'future (Mr. 'Triggs concludes), it will be seen'that Sir, Joseph Ward is holding; office' on.sufferance. ' He eaii be put out at any;time if- the Reform ■; arid Labour Pai-ties agree to put him out; Such an agreement, however, is not vexx likely to be arrived at. - The Labour Party; might withhold their support ..if. at any !■ time Sir Joseph .Ward refused to pay .their price, but Mr. Coates ; would '■•-be ; hardly ■ likely to follow Mr. Holland's lead, on such v an issue: Probably the. Labour leader is astute enough not to press'his'demands too. [ far... The. : Reform" Party .■will,;, no .doubt, '■■ -vote''against; measures which, they-consider opposed to' their, principles or 'not in the country's interest, but the; provisions they, object to will probably be such as the Labour Party approve. If Sir Joseph's,'health should prove unequal to his continuance in. ' office, .New, Zealand: politics would : be' 1 thrown into .the" melting-pot, and anything, might happen.;: The.-most likely, out-, come, would be an amalgamation of the moderate elements ;-;j,nV..the;; Reform arid ■'. United Parties, with Lsbo.ur .-once more as ! the,official Opposition.-- ■•;The 1 Labour people arc anxious that-there shall, be „-nly two parties, and would '.like!;.to. see ■ such an 1 amalgamation. ■; If Sir Joseph' Ward, who has started off with great, elan, can .con-' tinrie! to: stand-the ; strain, I see no reason . why the ' Ministry, with careful steering,, should not continue to hold office until at any; rate the; .General 'Election,' which'! takes plaice'in-the ordinary course in, 1931.