The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, JUNE, 29, 1926. CANADIAN POLITICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 June 1926, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, JUNE, 29, 1926. CANADIAN POLITICS.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock iu Rawer#, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Elthani, MangatoM, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patca, Waveriey, Ifokoia, Wbakamera, Ohangai, Mere, mere. Fraeer Road and Ararats.

The resignation of the Canadian Government, announced in to-day's cables, although it comes as a. surprise at the moment, was not- altogether unexpected. At the general election in October last, Mr Mackenzie King’s party lost nearly a sixth of its representation, and the allied Progressives suffered severely, their number in the House of Commons being reduced from *63 to 24. On the other hand, the Opposition (Conservative Party), led' by Mr Mcighen, more than doubled its strength in seats —from 50 to 116. It was mainly in Ontario and the maritime provinces that, the Liberals lost the confidence of the electors, and in the prairie districts, formerly solidly Progressive, Mr King gained somewhat, while, faithful to the memory of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Quebec remained staunchly Liberal. Hut the position in the completed House was that, the' Liberals were by themselves in a decided minority, and with the undivided support of tho 'Progressives could! muster a majority of only seven. Thus the Progressives hold control, of tho situation, or would have had their organisation . been stronger and their policy more fixed. As it is. their vote has been split 'on many questions and, although the morale of the Government. was strengthened somewhat by the return to the Common® of Mr Mackenzie King (in a seat specially vacated for hi a benefit), it lias' been manifestly impossible to carry on with any degree of comfort or of justice to tho needs of the Dominion. In the first, test of strength in the new House —this’before the Prime Minister rejoined his followers on the benches — the Government escaped defeat by only three votes, and even then the Opposition was without the services of one member, who ivas seriously ill at the time. Nineteen 'of tho Progressives, the only two Labourites in the House, and one Independent voted with the Government, five Prog-res- ' sives passing into Mr Meighen’s lobby. Mr King incurred the. wrath, of some of his enemies because of his refusal to resign immediately after the election (in which eight of, his fellowMinisters were companions in defeat), but it. is difficult to see how the country could have been better off if he had resigned. It. is difficult now to sec what hope Mr Meighen has of forming a Ministry that will endure. Neither of the loaclnng’ parties can command a majority sufficient to permit it to launch out on an ambitious policy of legislation, and it seems that an early election would he the best thing that could possibly happen for the good of Canada. Lord Bvng was perfectly in order, however, in ‘refusing a, dissolution until, the Leader of the Opposition had had his chance, and the next move lies with Mr Meighen. If his efforts fail, then a dissolution and fresh election will be tho only solution of the-impasse.