The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 21st, 1925. LABOUR. PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 21st, 1925. LABOUR. PROSPECTS.

AYfiat are the prospects of Labor, politically. Folk are beginning to ask that question now as a general election looms nearer. Labor is regarding 192-5 as its year of opportunity. It has been buitding for the time. The Leader <». the Party has been travelling through

both Islands of late expounding the political platform and assuring the audiences of the coming hour for Labor. On that tour a good deal of hope lias been built up. Following it, came the annual meeting of tlie Alliance of Labor at Wellington, and again hopes were exi ressed and raised of the promise of more certain things politically in the near days to come. Put, apart from these two events there are no other outward and visible, signs of Labor’s growing popularity with tiie lei ple. Labor has no political past ,

.swear by. U had some advantage at the last general election in more congested centres and where triangular iontests took place, but though Labor might do ns well again ill the metropolitan centres, it is quite possible there will not be so many triangular contests in other parts at the next general election. And, again, there is not any noise or clamour throughout the land for the advent of Labor to oflice. There is no demand of that nature, and lucking to the provincial representation even as at i revent elected, there is not likely to bo any marked outcry. Labor without a political past cannot point to wlint it has done. It is pointing to what it may do, and its leaning towards radical socialism is more likely to scare olf than to attract the staid and steady voter. Nor should we sav that the individual Labor member is likely to supply a Cabinet of responsible persons .such as is required to govern sanely the fort of the Dominion. There is no evidence ol any outstanding administrative ability among the rank and file of the party in numbers sufficient to promise a careful Cabinet such as should bo controlling the destinies of the country. Labor members lack experience in responsible positions calling for independent judgment and forethought. T hey are not equipped in that essential aid to good and sound government. It was the same at Home when Labor bad its opportunity. The Cabinet as a whole, lacked the Knowledge and understanding for thenhigh positions of office. 'I wo or three li.ad merit and ability, and were able to sense the* position they should fill, luit the majority just blundered along on class lines and lead up to the wrecking of the Government. The great opportunity was lost, and lost decisively, as the general election at Home showed all too plainly. Here, we may expect, some thought will be given by the average* elector to what happened in Great Britain when Libor had its chance to rule. 'lTie lesson will he noted and the knowledge will !h> stored in mind when the average ele. tor goes to the ballot box here this year. Labor at Homo was weighed in the political balance, and found wanting. A somewhat similar state of affairs would transpire here were Labor to be given the opportunity to attempt its socialistic schemes. Xo doubt, too, the programme would he rushed with the result that while Labor were in office expensive undertakings would he foisted on the country which could not he readily changed. \Vc read from time to time what has happened in Australia from the expensive State undertakings launched by the Labour Governments, and Xew Zealand, we may be sure, is not disposed to take similar risks. The prospects of I.armi politically are therefore not bright in this country. The hopes and anticipations of the Labor party as at present founded are due to be eclipsed of a certainty if the issue at the coming election is a. straight, cut one. Labor nr aivti-Lal or. Doubtless the Leader of the Labor Party and his following are building up on a three party fight, in many electorates. It is doubtful if this will fie general, more so as the socialistic proclivities of Labor as disclosed at tbe late annual meeting of the Alliance of Labor, will drive the political forces opposed to militant Labor into a single political camp. That is the tendency of the moment, with so much go slow and labor union dislocation apparent, causing losses of thousands of pounds to the country day by day. Ye do not know that Labor is inviting a straight out fight nor is desirous of it, but members of Labor unions are inviting such, while on top) of it all comes the scare from the general possibility of costly State Socialism to be put into practice if Libor were to attain the political ascendency at this important juncture in the affairs of the Dominion.