The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1919.

Evening Star, Issue 16995, 18 March 1919, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1919.

The formation at Wellington of a new political party, under tho Political somewhat hackneyed title of Portents. Moderate, must arrest attention, if only because the " platform ” that has bech adopted is in many respects constructed on right lines, and because tho head and front of the new movement are reflected in Mr C. P. Skerrett, one of tho brainiest men in the Dominion, whom we hope to see sitting in the next Parliament as one of the representatives of Wellington City. If his political acumen ba only of the same high quality as his forensio abilities, Wellington City will be all the richer, and tho councils of the Slate have the advantage, which should have happened long ago, of his universally acknowledged talents. That hy the way, however. .Let us return to the Moderate League and their platform. Tho avowed purpose of the new organisation is to bring within its fold all “ men ” who support stable government and a policy of sane progress, favoring no one class of the country, and getting them to the poll. Unless the framers of this constitution wish it to bo understood that they are governed by precedent, there is no excuse for their omitting to reckon with the female voter, who has just as much right to have her interests protected by a stable Government and a sane Parliament as has the sterner sox. Not only will the women insist on obtaining a potential v„,ce in the selection of candidates, but we opine that they will be prepared to nominate candidates of their own in the near future. Tho day is past when it can bo contended, either with fair argument or sound common sense, that our enfranchised women shall any longer be denied the right to assist in making the laws that they are compelled to obey. The example of England and the United States in this roiadon is too significant for the National Cabinet to disregard, and we are confident that in the scheme of Electoral Reform which will be introduced next session prominence will be given to the acknowledgment of the right of women to sit in tho Legislature. “When will tho session open?” is a question that is frequently asked of us by parliamentarians. Need wo say to them, as well as to our readers, that wo do not enjoy the confidence of the Cabinet on such a matter; but we havo a shrewd guess that Parliament will be called together this winter—either at tho end of June or the first week in July. It is an open secret that the two Leaders expect to be back in Wellington early in June ; and it is absolutely necessary that they should bo given a reasonable opportunity, after consultation with their colleagues, of formulating a programme of constructive legislation that may' find favor with the electorates. There is very grave reason for anticipating that the next session will ba full of surprises, and some of them may be even dramatic in their suddenness; wlhilo it is just on the cards that if tho Prime Minister does not heed the advice of a section of his supporters—which is more than disgruntled, for it is absolutely disaffected—to “swop horses in midstream,” there may r bo an earlier appeal to the country than tho political quidnuncs reckon upon now. Will Mr Massey' allow himself to be threatened—we had almost written bounced—into compliance with a demand to jettison some of his colleagues, whose usefulness to the party seems to be in doubt, or will he retort upon his rebellious crew by sending them back to their constituents? Whichever way the cat jumps (and the feline creature may be in a dangerous mood by then), it is quite certain that we are on tho threshold of important and far-reaching -political developments. ‘‘ Can tho National Government justify their continuance after the declaration of peace?” is another question that is often asked us, and we have little difficulty in returning a negative reply. With the declaration of what everyone prays will

prove a durable peace with honor to th Allies, the raison d’etre of the existini Coalition disappears} and unless the un expected happens, as it generally does ii politics,, there can bo no justification fo urging their continuance in office Whether the National Cabinet has or ha not fulfilled tho desires of those wh called it into existence (and -wo confcs that we wore with those who in 191. thought it a wise course to adopt, and, in deed, tho only one that could be aafel; followed at the time and in tile thoi existing circumstances), or whether i stands well in the eyes of the people, wil not be known till the constituencies an placed in a position to answer these ques lions in a constitutional way at the hallo box. That verdict, according to som clever people, has already been pronounced and they baso their judgment on the rc giili s of all tho recent by-elections, Bu that is not a fair deduction, since it hj notorious that the Coalition not only madi an ill choice of candidates, but wofullj mismanaged the campaigns, going th< length in some cases of allowing tin Ministerial candidate to “paddle his owi canoe,” and in others of practically dis avowing him. It goes without saying thal tactics of that negative kind can novel win an election. Would a Seddon have employed them? Certainly not. ITc was r rare fighter, and never allowed his stan-dard-bearer to go to tho slaughter unat tended. “ It tho Coalition cannot last and cannot go to tile country as such, what then?’ 1 is another oft-repealed inquiry, which we are unable to satisfactorily reply to. Everything depends on the state of the country when Parliament does meet, Ii nothing untoward happens to force the pace, unquestionably a determined effort will bo made to avoid a return to party allegiance and to the use of party methods ; but we are of opinion that the rank and file in both camps will let the Leaders know very early in the day that tho alliance, which has obviously served its purpose, must end forthwith. When the Coalition was formed there was an implied understanding—some who pretend to know all about the fusion, who initiated it, and who encompassed it assert that this understanding was actually reduced to writing; but we have always ridiculed the assertion—that when the parting of the ways is reached thcro should bo, a reasonable time allowed for tho resumption of tha lino of party demarcation, and for marshalling tho opposing battalions before tho verdict of tha country is sought. Be that as it may, however, there is absolute need, as wo have urged already, for a short breatUing space ero tho dogs oi political warfare are released from the lea-li. Tha preparation of a fighting ‘■platform,’’ tho selection of candidates, the providing of the sinews of war, and the appointment of organisers are all matters, of supremo importance; and these must be inquired into and put into proper shape before His Excellency can bo safely advised to cut the Gordian knob, whether it be done by effluxion of time or by summary process of law. With our -present sources of information, and after a careful diagnosis of tho position, wo incline to the view that there will be no General Election till tho summer of the present year. ■