POLITICAL POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 26, 31 January 1930, Page 8

POLITICAL POSITION

STABILITY AND LEADERSHIP

COUNTRY'S URGENT

NEED

(By "Searchlight.")

Whether or not New Zealand realises it, this country will in all probability have to face a political crisi i this year, due to a combination of circumstances, and it is well that somo serious thought should be given to tho position as it is at tho moment. All the signs and portents indicate that, economically, this year is going to be a very difficult ono, and the best brains will be required to guide tho Dominion.

What is the position in New Zealand to-day? Millions are being spent on all manner of State enterprises, the ultimate value of -which, is very questionable. Hydro-electric undertakings may at somo distant date be a profitable investment, but can this bo jiredieted with confidence of certain large railway undertakings? There are those who will so predict; but these people aro of the type of mind that declines to see danger. State Advances afford scope for further lavish expenditure,, so much so in the realm of housing, indeed, that private enterprise must aiceds pause before deciding to embark on schemes of house-building for lotting purposes. The State now provides the money for the asking, and for a long term of years virtually becomes the landlord. The day must surely come, though, when the moneylender will not bo able to provide unlimit d funds * nt tho State to lend out to prospective house-builders. At any rate, when Mr. Downie Stewart was Minister of I'inanco, London gave a clear indication that it did not altogether look with favour on loans for State Advances purposes, and presumably London, which has itself just passed through a period of financial difficulty, is still of the same mmd —and it seems too much to hope in the now somewhat restricted field of domestic finance that another internal loan or two for State Advances purposes can be an overwhelming success. Tho Government, however, is braving the attempt. It may be ungenerous to say that all these millions for railways, State Advances, and other purposes are being sought for political purposes.. Bather would it be more correct to say that tho country is becoming involved in a maze of finance in a feverish endeavour to dispel the ogre of unemployment. But are we not drifting? TIME FOR PLAIN SPEAKING. These questions bring one to a consideration of political affairs as they exist to-day, and the time has come for plain speaking and for looking facts in the face. What this country needs this year above all else is firm and prudent financial direction, and that cau only bo obtained by associating the best brains of the country in a Government that will concentrate all its attention, on how to conserve finance. Such a Cabinet must not be made up of a band of peripatetic Ministers, who will deem it to bo their chief function to survey the Seat of Government from v distance. It must not contain individuals who, new to office, consider that they must revolutionise everything done by their predecessors, .and who want to indulge in costly experiments. Does the United Party, in the light of recent happenings and criticisms, afford ground for the fullest confidence in its ability, with tho help of the Labour Party, to control the destinies of the Dominion? There, are those, well wish eta of the party, who are now beginning to entertain doubts as to, the wisdom of permitting that party longer to rotain its hold on the Treasury benches. Tho party now appears to lack a keen directing mind; those bohind the scenes well know how riven aro its ranks in Parliament with disgruntled membors. That was so last session, and it is so still. In any case, there are people of high rank in the United Party who fail to see how the party can weather the storms which aro sure to encompass it next session. They realise that the present position is unsatisfactory, and that with a stressful session tho party can scarcely have the luck it had last year. On the unemployment issue alone Mr. Holland, it is said, will salve his conscience and vote with whatever amendment the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. Coates) may produce to put tho United Party out. And, apart from the question of unemployment, there is, of course, Samoa. Mr. Holland will scarcely bo likely to let the Government go scotfree over the recent events in the Mandated Territory. WHAT OF EBFORM? Even if the United Party be weighed in the division balances in Parliament and be found 'wanting, what alternative is there to be found for it in the House? Cau the Eeform Party supply tho need? Apparently not, for that party, even though it is the strongest in the House, is not by any means certain to command the support of tho majority of the people. It, too, has its misgivings regarding leadership. It was evident to thoso who followed the debates in the House last year with au intelligent interest that Mr. Coatos had a rival in. tho camp. Indeed, at cortain stages of the session, it looked very much as if a certain member had taken up tho role of leador. The Hutt by-election may not havo afforded a very reliable test of public feeling as regards tho Eoforni Party, bnt judging by the state of opinion in different parts of tho country, particularly the Auckland district, tho question arises: Is Mr. Coates persona grata with the people, or even with the adherents of the Reform Party?. Whether this foeling is deep-seated or merely a passing phaso it is difficult to say. But this much can bo said for Mr. Coates: ho is generous to a fault, a*id is of the typo who would be prepared to stand aside if his party came to tho conclusion that it could well do with someone else, in his stead to lead it to victory. If the party wore to express a desire for a chango in leadership ho would not bo a stumbling block to its progress. It is regrettable that Mr. Downie Stewart's war infirmity has loft him so incapacitated, but he is a man of high culture and keen intellect, and despite his handicap there are those who hold the opinion that he might well bo expected to acquit, himself admirably as the Reform Leader. He is an incisive critic, and were bo over by tho.change of political fortune'to fiud himself as ( tho Leader of t. Government, given full and efficient assistance from a strong body of colleagues, his past record as Minister of Finance would' be sufficient to guarantee safe and prudent administration. LABOUR AND MR. HOLLAND. What of the Labour Party? Despito outward appearances, that party is not a homogeneous unit, and it is very questionable whether Mr. Holland will. be able to rotain an unchallengeable hold on its leadership. There are those in the Labour circles who believe that Labour would stand a better chaneo of support in the country were Mr. Holland to stand down in placo of soinoone else, preferably Mr. Savage, the deputy leader. Mr. Holland's ability

is unquestioned, but he has an acerbity; of outlook, especially on Imperial alin fairs, that docs not command the uu« qualified support of all in the party. Summing up the political position,therefore, it would appear that there seems to bo a lack of confidence in tho leadership of the three parties. The country does not seem to know jusfi whore it is politically at tho moment, and stability is now its most pressing need. This can only be attained by] testing the situation in Parliament, and in view of the existing economic; and financial position, and the neces* sity for getting on to a firm basis! before the present drift becomes more marked, the question arises whether; Parliament should not be called to-, gether sooner than the usual time at tho end of Juno, so that members may take counsel together. If the counsels are so divided that an early General Election ..is precipitated, then it may; well be that the interests of New Zealand wi 1 havo been best consulted. The ultimate solution of tho tangle rest^ with the people, but, first of all, thei issue must be faced in Parliament.