Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE STATE OF PARTIES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 16 December 1914, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE STATE OF PARTIES.

A K observe that the "Post," a- paper vitli no party interests to serve, assumes, .hat, even with' the loss of the kVairarapa seat to the Government, Jie next session of Parliament will jegin at the customary time—low a lxl s the Mid of June, that is to say, things •vill go on in the ordinary way. It vould be a mistake to imagine, it says, ;hat a nominally narrow majority for the Lrovcrnnient on the floor of the House •vould necessarily mean a miserable precarious existence in office during the whole term of the new Parliament. Whe:her this is so or not. remains to be seen. It depends upon circumstances—and certainly circumstances ai:e in favour of the Grovcrnment, that is of course, providing both Maori seats are absolutely safe, :md there are no further losses in some jf the still doubtful contests. On the ane side there is a solid party and on the other a. mixture. Obviously the solid party has the advantage. What bond of union can there be between Sir Joseph Ward and his immediate followers, and members of a party whose aim is to turn New Zealand, into a Spci-rhst JXepu'ob'i:'! The "Post" attaches some importance to the words of Mr A. _M. My.ns. a man of independent mind. Speaking on Friday last Mr Myers mi id : "Recognising that the maintenance of law and order is the first essential of government and progress, lam satisfied that Sir Joseph "Ward would not accept .the responsibility of forming a -Government unless be was assured of absolute support to give him the necessary majority to carry on a progressive and prudent policy." Heading between the lines of the remarks of MiMyers, the "Post" says it is possible to deduce without identifying himself with the Government Party, his sy-m----pathits would rather be with the Go- J vernmcnt, at a time when "the maintenance of law and order is the first essential" than with the red wing. The first duty of -every member is to be true to his constituents; and no changing over to the Government in violation of election pledges should be indulged in, or tolerated by any person possessing regard for the purity of public life. Of course, the "Post" is not referring to such changes, •but it says that the Government- has reason to believe that its policy measures will not always encounter irreconcilable hostility, indiscriminate antagonism, from all sections of the Opposition. If a number of Oppositionists, realizing that if it comes'to the point, the Government could defeat them on it no confidence motion, agree not to endeavour to trap the Government, but to support it in passing legislation, which they feel they can support, then the business of Parliament should proceed in a satisfactory manner. But ho marking-time tactics should be adopted. Hie country had' enough of this sort of-thing in the last years of the Ward Government's tenure of ffice, when divisions in the party itself, prevented definite forward movement.