THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1919. THE FUTURE OF POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1919. THE FUTURE OF POLITICS.

Party politics in New Zealand are in a state of flux. The term for which the coalitionjras formed has almost run, and oh the return of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward after the signing of the peace treaty I it is open to both sides to withdraw i and to resume party warfare whore J it was left off in August, 1915. No other course was anticipated when • the truce was arranged, but the i sobering influences of the war have I changed the public outlook upon ! politics, and have created a general disinclination to return to pre-war shibboleths. It is this line of 1 thought that is the germ of the ■ New Zealand Welfare League, and ; that has prompted the suggestion that the present coalition be maintained a3 a permanent union. The purpose in both cases is the same, the formation of a strong Government able to formulate and carry out a bold policy in keeping with the pressing economic needs of the Dominion. In the foreground of any such policy there must, as a matter of stern necessity, be increase of production in order to meet the very heavy annual liability which will, under the most favourable circumstances, result from the war. This expansion of industry can in New Zealand best take place in agriculture, hence land settlement on a large, scale must form the first definite point in any national programme. It naturally carries with it a vigorous prosecution of railways and roads which are required to open up land, and of other public worko which will facilitate the use of latent resources, and so increase the public wealth. As a set-off we , must have the strictest economy in j non-reproductive expenditure, and j we must have the most careful and J expert handling of every State enterprise so as to secure the maximum return on the capital invested. Extravagance, improvidence, and thriftlessness must be equally banished from the next Administration, which will be called upon to husband the national estate at a critical time and by businesslike management enlarge it to bear the same proportion to liabilities as it did before the war. That will be the great task before New Zealand statesmanship for many years. Unless it is done well there can be no social progress, and no industrial betterment, because both capital and labour will be carrying a financial burden that can only be supported comfortably by broadening the national shoulders j correspondingly. Finally there must i be industrial peace, and the country 1 will approve all measures promoting 'harmony between employers and employed. If necessary,, revolutionary and Bolshevik tendencies must be resolutely suppressed, -but it. is better to prevent them by making New Zealand conditions unfavourable to their growth. These are the broad outlines of the only, policy which meets the needs and wishes of New Zealand to-day. It is a policy to which every reasonable citizen may subscribe, and it is one which will • be overwhelmingly in'favour as public opinion becomes articulate at election time. To secure an administration pledged to this policy and capable of carrying it out will presently be the duty of voters, and this may not be altogether easy. To find politicians willing to do lip service to such a programme will" be a simple matter, but to select the men who in natural gifts, training, and character are best qualified to undertake the work of reconstruction there must be a careful and thorough sifting and testing of the candidates. The task calls less for the usual attributes of politicians than for business experience, executive capacity, organising ability and soundness of judgment. The operations of the Public Works Department will alone eclipse those of a great many large businesses together; and to entrust them to memi bers who have no knowledge of prac- ! tical affairs, however facile they may I be in speech and in the arts of the politician, would be unwise. New Zealand can do without orators in the next Parliament. She cannot do without the best brains of commerce and industry, and it will be a national misfortune if the new House of Representatives does not contain a larger percentage of young and vigorous men of plain commonsense with a vision beyond their own • electorates, and a capacity for getting things done. The Ministry must be formed from among the ablest members of the House, and it must bo free from personal jealousy and factional strife. To speak , candidly, this is the weakness of the I present coalition Government. It is not without talent, but it is not the ! best that could be formed, even from the present Parliament. It would be improved by the retirement of several Ministers, and it would bo immensely strengthened if it could be freed from the personal discord and the party rivalries which notoriously weaken its purpose and hamper its action. The coalition has been a success only as far as common inspiration has carried it. To its credit it must be recorded that it kept New Zealand's sword arm free and strong. Its purely war legislation was the best produced in any Dominion. It led in the democratic enforcement of conscription, and it did everything humanly possible to increase the efficiency of New Zealand's contribution to the common cause in Lien, money, and foodstuffs. To this very | notable extent the coalition was successful because on these measures all its member«, as patriotic citizens, were united. It has failed in the sphere of purely domestic legislation because its members are not here united. The party spirit is not dead. On the contrary it has obtruded itself on critical occasions with the result that frequently the decisions of the Government have

not been what the national interest dictated, but what a party compromise would permit.

In spite of its present weaknesses there are members in both political parties who hope to see the coalition become permanent, believing that in this way the best elements of political life can be united for national service. This hope cannot be dismissed as chimerical A union of all political parties who are willing to work loyally on national lines would be in many respects beneficial to the country. It would make practically all the knowledge and political experience of Parliament available to the new Ministry. It would combine all moderate elements into a bloc powerful enough to check extremists and to pursue the vigorous and courageous policy the country wants. If to its other obvious advantages the coalition added singleness of purpose and real unity it would be the best conceivable instrument of government. If it displayed the same strength and energy in domestic legislation as the present Cabinet has in war legislation it would be fully justified. The issue depends wholly upon the nature of the. coalition. If the parties can trust each other sufficiently to achieve a union of heart and mind as well as of membership the coalition should have many years of useful service before it. But there must 4>e no reservations about the amalgamation, no lingering of the party spirit. There must be one leader, not two, and all must give him loyal following. The Cabinet must b<» composed of the ablest men in the new Parliament to whatever party they may belong. It must bo more than a coalition. It must be a fusion in the national interests, inspired by a national purpose fl and guided by a national outlook. Nothing less will suffice. The question is: Are the parties capable of rising to such an ideal? We'shall begin to perceive the answer after the return of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward.