Manawatu Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 21st MAY, 1876.] WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1921 SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1980, 23 November 1921, Page 4

Manawatu Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 21st MAY, 1876.] WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1921 SIR JOSEPH WARD.

The return of Sir Joseph Ward to New Zealand is naturally causing people to ask whether there is any immediate probability of his re-entering politics. So far, he has refrained from making any announcement upon the subject, but it is reported in political circles "that a strong effort is to be made to induce him to contest the Awarua seat at the election next year. The Liberal Party, of which Sir Joseph was the Leader for some years, is at present seriously disintegrated. An endeavour is being made in Auckland to bring about an understanding between the Liberals and Moderate Labour, in the hope that the combination will be strong enough to oust the Reformers. It is safe to say, however, that so long as the present Labour Party is in existence, the position of the Reformers will remain secure. The Prime Minister was speaking only the truth when he stated in the House recently that the present Labour Party are his best friends. It is they who have kept him in power, and will continue to keep him there. The opinion is slowly gaining ground in the Dominion that the time will come when there will be a fusion between tho moderate section of tho Liberals and the moderate Reformers, and that the fight will be between the Reform-Liberals and the Labourites. If Sir Joseph Ward were to identify himself with the former party he would probably find himself in the Ministry in a very short period. A combination between Sir Joseph Ward and the present Parliamentary Labour Party is unthinkable. There is very little in common between Sir Joseph and Mr. Holland. If the latter were to sink his identity, and allow Labour and Liberalism to combine, as they did before the elections in 1890, the positioi. of Mr. Massey would not be nearly as strong as it is at the present time. Mr Holland, however, is implacable. He wants all or nothing. So long, therefore, as the great body of Labour permits itself to be dominated by the extremists, so. long will it remain in the cold shades of Opposition. Tho line of cleavage between the Reformers and Liberals is not so marked as it was a few years ago. Indeed, the policy of Mr Massey, and that of the Liberals, has much in common. It will be interesting to watch the development of political events in tho next, few' months. Sir Joseph Ward’s attitude will have a considerable bear, ing upon the situation.