Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JUNE 5th, 1922. POLICY SPEECHES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1922, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JUNE 5th, 1922. POLICY SPEECHES.

Coming events frequently cast theii' paragraphs before, and such intimations were forthcoming about Mr Massey’s “policy” speech at Invercargill, last week. Those enthusiasts in things political whose hopes rose high that the Premier would have someting new to divulge were disappointed, because the speech was mainly on the lines of the address previously given by Mr Massey at Feilding. We headed our report of the Invercargill speech with “Hopes and Quotes,” and that, we claim, summed up what followed. The Premier hopes for reduced taxation and lower railway and postal changes, but made no definite pronouncement. He also quoted various statistics, but as . a “policy” speech, it was not an inspiring effort. Moreover, whilst in. the South the leader of the Cabinet was encouraging tax-’ I "

payers to- expect relief, one of his colleagues, Mr Noswortliy, speaking' in the North, was less optimistic. The taxpayer will have to wait and see which Minister was the truer prophet. This is sure to be a period of promise where Parliamentarians are concerned, because the general elections are approaching. Members of the Cabinet and their supporters are making their own accounts of their stewardship, past, present and prospective, as flattering as possible, but these statements are not taken at their face value, even leading Reform newspapers being among the Ministry’s critics. We are, of course, of those who believe that, the national interests would be best served by the Liberals gaining office at the encl of the year, and the chances ol this are improving every month. Valuable organising work is being' quietly carried on, and mosi constituencies wil have representative Liberal candidates seeking the electors’ support. From time to time, Mr Wilford announce; that official sanction has beei given to this or that candidate n the Liberal interests—which be ing rightly interpreted mean; the national interests,—and reallj <>ood men are coming' forv ard But when will the country, lean more of what is to be the mime

diate Liberal policy, if the resul of the general elections give: them a majority in the House a; it probably will? After hisPetom speech, we urged Mr Wilford t< give this information to an ex pectant nation ; shortly afterward the “New Zealand Times” made: ■ similar request. It is understood that proportional representation i to be one of the first planks in th' platform, but what of the otlie constructive proposals, of wind there ought to be many ?. Denun ciation of Reform administration is well-founded, but true Liberal ism would be stimulated if mor details of the proposed officia policy to suit modern condition , were forthcoming. Perhaps dui , ing the coming' session, Mr WiJ ; ford will satisfy not unnatura ' curiosity, and demonstrate tha ' Liberalism is as alive to-day t 1 the people’s wants and welfare, a r it was in the Seddon-Ballanc ! days. No useful purpose i ■ served by waiting until the elec tion campaign has. definitely

started beiore pruuiuuuug mediate Liberal policy. llie gei eral Liberal principle of strivin for the greatest good of the giea est number is taken for grantee but the electors of to-day are n< satisfied with generalities.