Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1912. PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNTRY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 4 March 1912, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1912. PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNTRY.

THE STATE OF PARTIES. THE proroguing of Parliament by no means puts an. end to interest in things political. The fact that the Government retains office, on the casting vote of the Speaker, is, in itself alone, sufficient grounds for much speculation regarding the future. It is evident that the Government Party will hardly find life worth living ; but on the other hand Mr Massey will have to secure a majority of votes to force a speeuy dissolution. When Mr Wilford returns from England there will be a voting force of 41 at the back of the Government, whilst the Opposition will possess only 38. This is, •of course, supposing that Mr V.eitch throws in his lot with the Government on future .divisions. But where a real difference comes in is that the Government, as a party, numbers only 32, six votes behind the Opposition, and the fact that it has to rely for. its majority upon the "mixed" voting of the Labour and Independent members, necessarily renders the Party unstable, as compared with the solid and loyal body of Oppositionists. And then in addition it will be recognised that the Government Party will have to proceed along a precarious course, and any one of the rocks is dangerous enough to wreck many a Party with a more solid following.

In dealing with the situation immediately the result of the no-confidence motion was made known, we expressed the opinion that in all probability a re-con-struction of the following wquld be the ultimate outcome, and the latest information from Wellington seems to indicate that this is being contemplated. This means, of course, that the Party itself realises that its past record is not sufficient to secure' the confidence either of the majority of members of the House or of the country as a whole. We have always endeavoured to judge the Ward Government on its merits, upon what has been seen of its methods of administration, and upon the results that have arisen from the general character of its policy. And as those who have perused our columns with any degree of care must know, we have had a good many faults to find, especially in regard to its methods of administration. And during the last few years there has been a growing feeling in the country against the Party, and had not the will of the people been flagrantly flouted by the breaking of election pledges on the part of two Labour members, the Dominion to-day would be witnessing the formation of a .Massey Ministry. But by the closest possible division, the Government Party has been saved the humiliation of defeat a defeat, moreover, avoided by the Premier's promise to resign, it realizes that it is impossible to carry on with the remains of the present party, and so a complete reconstruction is t ontemplated. It wnl be for the people to carefully observe the trend of events, and to ascertain what importance may attached to this reconstructed party. If past methods of administration are to be done away with, if the party is prepared to promulgate a clear and definito policy which it will abide by ; then can i£ as a party be compared with the Opposition. This will give the electors the' chanco of judging each party on the merits of its policy. So far as we are concerned, one of the objects we have been striving for will have been achieved if, as the outcome of the scaro the Government Party has been given, it sets seriously to work to put its house in order, and settles down to conscientious work which it believes to be in the best interests of the Dominion. But it is easy to make good promises at such times; and, unfortunately, such promises, like the proverbial piecrust, are easily broken.

So far as Mr At more is concerned, wo have nothing to say other than to reiterate our remarks of Wednesday last, which were to the effect that he, being placed in supreme command of the House might have viewed the matter judicially, and have frustrated the work of the pledge-breakers. He was perfectly unpledged—a fact which a number of local electors do not seem to realise —and nothing can fairly be said in regard to the manner in which he has voted. During the election campaign he represented the self-reliant type of politician, and the general uncertainty of things political, .and the fact that whilst approving of the Government's policy so far as it was known, yet finding many faults in its administration, warranted his complete independence. But as we have already pointed out, the circumstances of the. next election promise to be entirely different from those of last December, and if this is the case then the electors of Nelson are entitled to decide for them-

selves which party they will support. And Mr Atmore must recognise the fact. We freely admit that during the pre sent session he has by means of his complete independence occupied a very enviable position, and we willingly believe that he acted according to his own conviction, uninfluenced by any pressure that may have been brought to bear upon him. But it must be realised that it is the special circumstances —and some local enthusiasts contend that circumstances do not alter, cases —that have given him his special opportunities, and these are circumstances which occur very rarely in the history of any party syatem of Government. In the ordinary every day of Party Government the independent member occupies a very minor position indeed, and so it is hoped that the conditions prevailing, both at the last election and during the present session, will not induce Mr Atmore to place too much importance upon the position of the independent member. For a few of our friends it may be necessary to point out again, that this does .not mean a subservient follower, a mere voting machine, to vote for the party every time. Whilst tlie game must, in ordinary circumstances, be played according to the rules, a politician should by no means be prepared to become a mere cog in the wheel of the party machine.