The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1919.

Evening Star, Issue 17192, 6 November 1919, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1919.

The longest Parliament in the history of New Zealand virtutt nd <Jf the ally came to an end I2&k&/ parliament, last night with the close of a comparatively short but remarkable session. It would be unkind, and perhaps unjust, to say that the longest Parliament was also the worst, in tho Dominion's history; but most of the people, who pay heavily for the luxury of experimental legislation and tho extravagance of inefficient administration, will hope for many reasons that it will be the last of its kind —that its like will never be seen again. The nineteenth Parliament came into being .under the flush of war fever in 1914, and held tho first of its six abnormal sessions in 1915, when the strength and circumstances of tho rival! political parties were such as to make government on traditional party lines either a farce or embarrassing confusion. Tho Reform Government carried on for a time, and did good work in the unique circumstances, but the increasing pressure of the clamant needs of war made it plain to Parliament and tho people that the interests of tho State and the greater interests of the Empire could not be subjected to the caprice of party politicians or to the risk of a sudden dissolution. So, after a groat tie ".I of party palaver under the guise, of patriotism, the main parties in the House joined forces for the sole purpose of helping New Zealand under a National Government to throw all its weight into the world contest for freedom. In respect to war effort, tho union of parties was an unqualified success. The National Government, loyally supported by the great majority of the people, concentrated administrative effort on maintaining a,t an exceptionally high standard and in a remarkable measure New Zealattd's practical enterprise in war. As the needs of the Empire increased, so tho efforts of the Dominion were expanded. Gloom of delay, difficulties and incidental defeat—aye, the very menace of disaster—inspired and fortified rather than daunted the people. The spirit of the country became the spirit of war and ultimate triumph. Grim and deadly sacrifice was an honor and sorrow a tender memory. The original voluntary Expeditionary Force of 10.0 CO men became in the end a complete, compact, highly efficient Division, consistently reinforced throughout all tho bitter years until a small Dominion had given to the great Cause an army of a hundred thousand of her best manhood—an army "with a fine record of imperishable'achievements in many fields of battle under the severest tests of warfare, and with a long roll of honor—over 16,000 heroes. It would be churlish, it would be unjust, not to render to the Dominion's longest Parliament and to the Reform Government and the National Government a generous measure of genuine praise for their legislative and administrative efforts for success' in war. There were countless grievous blunders, of course, and also a host of vexatious vacillations over miuor matters; but in respect to the main purpose the Long Parliament achieved creditable success.

But owing to the curious -weaknesses of the peddling political mind the way to success was cut through much lamentable failure. The unity of the patriotism of the rival political parties held consistently in respect to the highest purposes of the administrative union in the form of the National Government, but in lesser matters—in the things loosely described as domestic politics—there was no unity of purpose, and very little, if any, of effort. The party lion and the tiarty leopard remained as ever for ever, and refused to hunt small game together. Need we revive irritation by reviewing all the irritating detects of the Coalition? Enough to temper the mutual congratulation of the main parties-last night by reminding them that a little over two months ago, when Peace should have encouraged a spirit of forgiveness, the National Government and the Long Parliament had lew in the land so poor as to do thsm reverence.

No reference to the longest Parliament would be complete without a word or two about the third political party in it—the Labor Party; or, in deference to those vote-catching politicians who are careful to attempt to .separate the sheep from the goats, the Labor group. What is their record in the unique and historic period? It would be pitiable if it were not a thing of shame. Merely a record in the main of sullen enmity to highest national effort, stupidity of tactics for a cause that deserves wise encouragement, and an odious sort of political sedition and veiled Bolshevism. But in branding the present Labor leader the cold pontiff of the creed 'Sir James Allen has bianded tho group.