Grey River Argus MONDAY, May 27, 1935. POLITICAL SITUATION.

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1935, Page 4

Grey River Argus MONDAY, May 27, 1935. POLITICAL SITUATION.

Interest:, here: of ore associated with the Government are no longer hopeful of its ability or even determination to tackle the worst problems facing- tli e Dominion. It is evident that the dominant section in lhe Coalition is a Reform group, whose objection to any change from the “ confusion. ” is simply a desire to prevent any interference with, dominant vested interests, and therefore to prevent the economic readjustments which alone ean remedy the position. , These interests are readv to countenance the continuance of unemployment, and to leave the rising generation without any prospect of security in lhe battle of life. Why this Government is hopeless is due partly to the fact that party funds for electioneering purposes are under the control of the Reform group, and the other element lack organisation entirely. The public may be prepared

for some electioneering- developments of a curious nature. The politicians with the large funds under their control will not only dictate to the others in the newly-named “National” grouping, but there will bp plenty of money laid out in a vote-splitting campaign wherever there are individuals to be found who are willing to co-operatp and camouflage those tactics. One neutral observer points out that the Reform Party has always retained its party machine and its wealthy supporters. The persistent ap proaches of the other element in the “Nationalist” ranks for a permanent alliance on the basis of a fifty-fifty division of the spoils have always been vfetoed by thp Reform heads: who would never countenance any departure from Toryism. That they are at •he same time afraid that the mere term “Nationalist” will this time fail to avail them has been indicated by the reaction of their press to the municipal elections. The capture of two City Councils, and the gaining ct strong representation .on two others has alarmed the Tories Wicl this is generally conceded to be the reason for the sudden an nouncement of a “half-pie” fusion, followed by a proclamation from some Ministers and Reform leaders that the contract is in nowise a binding one. The sole object is no more than an elec-

tioneering expedient. It is not the only one, of course. The pros peet of a Labour Government has led to another. There is thp mystery party, the “Democrat” one. whose head was formerly party organiser first for the Tories and then for the Uniteds, what time time they laid the seventy million egg, without hatching it out. Th-? “Democrat” leader. Mr A. G. Davy, declares, that the full strength of his movement is not yet revealed, but it will, he says, have a very abl e leader, and also the strongest political organisation in the country. Presumably this refers to financial strength, and if so the organisation in question could be “guessed in one.” Mr Davy declares the “Democrats” are going- to win from 25 to 30 seats in the next

Parliament. If. as th ( . general I public anticipate, Labour clean..' up the city and town electorates, and gains even a few rural seats, and if at the same tim e the “Democrats,” won even a few seats. there would be no need for any members to bow the knee to the party fund bosses. The end of Hu* present dictatorship would then be inevitable, and with it the dissolution of the so-cal’ed National Political Federation of which the organiser is At.- S Ardell, who recently retired from the Tourist Department. Even such interests as say they wish for a national party do not regard the present arrangements as being anything of the sort. It will not. by all accounts, prevent aspirants for the “Democrat” or any other label from opposing Nationalists, although in certain cases there are, as aforesaid, going- to be vote-splitters, whose entry will be designed to serve the turn of those who possess the electioneering funds. The fact is to-day more outstanding than ever that only one Parliamentary Party remains faithful to its pro: fessions and unashamed of its record. That is the Party of Lab our, against which the manoeuvres of the other political elements are directed. Thor? have been a few Members of Parliament who have seen the justice and prudence of Labour's stand' for the common people of all ranks, and these have become not merely independent and hostile to lhe Government, but markedly sympathetic with Labour. It is only with Labour that there remains inspiration and foi*ce to embark on the social and economic changes needed, and so give the rising generation the unemployed. the hard working farmers, and th e hard-up traders a real opportunity once more to make good. While the policy of pauperisation has been promoted, traders everywhere have had to strike their colours to the untrammelled onset of monopoly in some shape of form As a result, if may truly be said that to-day the wealthy element is smaller and richer while the other elements are larger and poorer than even five years ago to an evident degree. That pro : cess has one prospect of a check The people have had every opportunity to see this. There must bo a change of government, and there is only one change possible in New Zealand.