The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 29 May 1919, Page 4

The Star.

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Delivered every evening by 5 o*cloo_ to Hawera, Maea'a, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna), Opunake, Oiakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley.

Tlie decision of the Liberal Party assembled in caucus to withdraw at an early date from the present arrangement with the Reform Party has "Been generally approved by its press, and it may be assumed that th e new departure is welcomed by the party as a whole. Criticism from without the party is therefore likely to be futile, and indeed may be regarded by the Liberals as confirmatory evidence of the wisdom of the step taken. Nevertheless, the ordinary observer not acquainted with the precise reasons which prevailed within the caucus, after six hours of deliberation, is likely to regard the decision as calculated to materially increase tho embarrassments of the National Government, which for some time yet will have to be responsible for the conduct of public business. One has been taught to believe that mutual confidence among members of a Cabinet is absolutely essential. But it is certainly difficult to realise how such confidence can be maintained when onehalf of the members have given notice that they are about- to leave, and that their future- business in the ordinary course of political warfare will be to show that the other half ought not to ho trusted, A cabinet in such a predicament is of little value as a guide to either Parliament or the country. Its usefulness is at an end theoretically, and the sooner it breaks up the better. Yet just now, especially with the Prime Minister and the Finance Mniister away, it is practically impossible to have a change. The action of the caucus, therefore, seems to be at least premature, because immediately it does no good, and immediately it does the positive harm of weakening a necessary Government in public esteem and confidence. The matter might well have been allowed to stand over until Mr Massey and Sir J. G. Ward had returned. Indeed, we should have preferred to see the present arrangement last a little longer evn than that. In our opinion the j National Government might well have ! remained together until stock oould ' har. -«e_ taken of the p«st-war poei-

tion; until the liabilities and responsibilities oast on the country by the war could have been set forth authoritatively and impartially; until the problems of the future were really appreciable in their fulj significance. Then, of course, if there were division's Vof opinion as to what policy should be adopted to meet this position, the.electorate -would be able to vote intelligently on the issue,, or.issues,.presented to it by the -several parties. At any rate, the parties, each of them, would have been in the more preferable position of separating because they differed on great points of policy, instead of having to search for points of divergence in order to justify their separation. The determination to separate and fight before it is known where tho lines, of -cleavage are to be does seem a bit prematura. Already the pplitioal position in the Dominion is confused and difficult, by reason of the long absence of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. The work of examination and reconstruction ought now to be well advanced. Parliament, before dissolving, should have a good three or four months' time in which to get to the bottom of things, so that members and candidates at the election would know what they were talking about, and be able to give the electors guidance. If, as seems likely, Parliament will not meet soon enough to do more than scamper through the more urgent part of its work, as it has done during ths past two sessions, then the electorates will not be fully informed of public affairs, we shall probably have a, confused election, with three or more parties bidding for office, complicated still further by the everlasting liquor question, and one or two other unpleasant and disturbing issues., and the result may be a new House, with no mandate, and a period of much jconfusion, for which the only remedy will be still another election at a comparatively earlj' date. It is most unfortunate that the leaders are so long away, and the misfortune is deepenedl by the fact, we believe it is a fact, of a growing feeling that neither of them has the solid and satisfied following he at one time could command, a feeling of which there is evidence in the formation of Caves of Adullam, wherein the discontented have gathered themselves together. It is not a pelasant situation to contemplate at a time when the country needs particularly good leadership, especially when it is all too obvious that. if the present leaders have declined -in public confidence, no stronger men have as y6t appeared.