Grey River Argus MONDAY, January 16, 1928. ELECTION YEAR.

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus MONDAY, January 16, 1928. ELECTION YEAR.

Election year finds the Reform Party faced with a prospect which is plainly causing it very grave anxiety. There is not only disunity within its ranks, but it is apprehensive of defections among its supporters to both the Labour Party and the United New Zealand Party. There has been a complete failure, not only to cope with the great economic setback which even in midsummer sees an unprecedented number of unemployed throughout the country, but merely to avert a party split on the liquor question. While professing to keep it clear of party, the Ministry has been unable in that particular matter to avoid a bungle, and nobody now knows what will be the upshot. However, it is when the Reform press undertakes to make out a defence for the Party that its quandary is most evident. It has no positive argument. It is admitted that some sections who hitherto have generally been favourable, have now different reasons for discon- j tent with the Administration, and may be ready openly to oppose the ruling faction, but the only

reason advanced against such a rupture is that it may mean putting Labour in power. This in itself is a confession that Labour is gaining in influence and prestige among the electors. The reasons wiiy tile Labour Party’s prospects have thus improved are never acknowledged. Its exposure of Reform ineptitude and failure cannot be contested, but the capacity of Labour’s representatives demonstrated session after session in Parliament is never acknowledged. Thus the Reform press, unable to find in the Government’s record anything to justify an- appeal to the people for continued support, turns upon those who are discontented with the old cry about the red wolf, and as good as says, vote Reform, ■whether Reform goes right or wrong. Hence, such a Tory stalwart as the Christchurch Press remarks: “Every year thousands of electors, realising that there is no distinctive policy for which the Liberal Party can stand, are streaming away from the old allegiance, but those who are slow in seeing the plain enough facts are still sufficiently numerous to make any division amongst the Reform voters very advantageous to the Reds.” Surely this concedes Labour is growing in strength among the electors when so much store is set by the capture for Toryism of the otherwise despised remnant of the old Liberal Party, the Press going so far as to say “The main obstacle to a united opposition to the Socialist challenge is the foolish belief of many people that the old Liberal Party may in some guise or other struggle back to power.” This paper, which holds out no hope of office for any alternative to the Labour Party, except the party at present in power, acknowledges that, however the other politicians “may disagree among themselves, the Labour Party remains united, and never ceases to work and organise for a Parliamentary majority.” (Again, however, the reason for such unity and enthusiasm is not acknowledged. The truth is obvious that the policy of Labour is commending itself more and more to the people of the Dominion, and that the dissension and disintegration menacing the Reform Party are

due to its policy, or lack of policy, having disillusioned those, who gave it such a majority last election. It was going to get things done, but its only achievement of late has been to drive the Samoan people into disaffection. Only a couple of days ago the deportation policy led to such a native demonstration as never before was seen in the chief town of Western Samoa, where armed natives fired their guns in the streets. It may be true enough for the Press to say that “The new political organisation called the United New Zealand Party, which seems to be amalgamated with the National Party, represents the old Liberal remnant, reinforced, perhaps, by some discontented persons in the Reform ranks.” But it is no defence of Reform to throw mud either at the old remnant or at the Labour Party. Likewise, it is no longer a good political dodgj to uoe the term “red” in reference to Labour, and ask the electors to vote Tory on the strength of that only. The electors arc no longer in the mood to judge the Labour Party by the labels which its opponents would attach to it. They are rather disposed this year as never before to judge the Party by its performances. Last session showed one thing clearly. Labour stood between the country and more than one Reform blunder, and tried hard to save it from others. It has been the. same session after session. It is impossible for the Tory press to blind the people any longer to the. consequences of the Reform policy, because those consequences stare all classes in the face. It is not the sins of Labour but of Reform that are in question, and these have to do as much witli what has been left undone as with what lias been done. The indications, I are, therefore, the Reform press will have to dig up a very different slogan for this election than that of the man who gets things done. They are welcome to the' digging.