THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1928. AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20105, 16 November 1928, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1928. AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

Tjie elections being over, it is no use wasting regrets on the outcome, or speculating about the exact causes that produced it. The position being as it is. a more necessary and much more interesting speculation is what its results will be. For this purpose there is no need to wait until doubtful seats arc finally decided. Neither is thoro any call to consider whether Mr. Coates will or should resign forthwith, or whether ho should face Parliament and wait the result of an adverse vote. One thing is quite certain. lie will go out of office. The alignment of parties leaves no doubt that ho can be voted out as soon as a motion to that effect can be moved. There could be little question, on pre-elec-tion declarations, what strength would be behind it. Now Mr. Holland has disposed of any that remained by saying his party will help to defeat the Government. This is fully consistent with the attitude they have always held. Nobody who voted for the Labour Party can complain that he did not know this would be done. So far, proceedings aro quite straightforward. The Government goes out of office. Sir Joseph Ward is the leader entitled to a summons from the GovernorGeneral. There is no doubt he will be asked to form a Government, and that he will undertake to do so. On his declared following he will not command a majority of the House. He says he has been assured of the support of other men. Leaving out of account Sir Charles Statham, who will presumably serve again as Speaker, there are four independent members and one Country Party man who are free to support him. This will not give him a majority. If there are any more potential followers, the country will be very interested to know who and how many they are. At present a clear majority for Sir Joseph Ward is simply not in sight. Facts now known point to Sir Joseph Ward assuming office with no security of tenure. Already there is talk of his being kept there by the support of the Reform Party, or by some form of fusion. This is going too far and too fast. It must be modified by looking at the position from the point of view of Mr. Coates and his followers. They are being told they have received a vote of no-confidence from the country. They cannot dispute it. for the figures are against them. Each of the other parties advocated that course. Each of them undertook to serve as the alternative. Each of them claimed to have a policy adequate for the needs of the country. Each of them said there was much wrong with the national condition and outlook, each said, moreover, that it could offer the means of salvation. Together they greatly outnumber the Reform Party. Both have demanded it should be rejected, and have had their wish fulfilled. Mr. Coates will be taking up a per fectly logical position if he should insist that, having done all that was demanded by either of Ihein by relinquishing office, he is not called on to do anything more ; that, in fact, it is for them to handle the situa tion they have created. The Re form section can go further by suggesting that, having no mandate to form a Government, neither has it any mandate to participate in any Government that is formed. The two other parties have between them abundant strength to do what thev will in the House. That being so, they cannot reasonably call upon the third, to which both have deflared unfaltering opposition, to eome to the rescue of either. Did those who voted for the I nited Party desire il lo form a Government dependent on Reform votes for support, and therefore presumably likely to In: influenced in its coun sels by that party? It is very cer tain those who voted for Labour never imagined a Labour Govern merit in power with Reform support Those who voted Reform certainly never expected the party to keep n I nit.erl Government in office. Thev neither imagined, nor would tolc-ate. a Labour Government kept in power by Reform votes Mr Go'itea has no mandate either wav

There is another point which works against the Reform Party cast ine in its lot with the United Party Though the country sup ported both United and Lnboui Par. tics sufficiently to defeat Mr Coates, it. has not, by a majority, endorsed the policy of either. The Reform Party should give no pro gramme an endorsement the country has denied it. Nothing need be said about either party accepting Reform support if it were available. The whole point is that Mr. Coates can very reasonably decide it should not be made available. If any individuals in his following decide other-

wise, that is an issue entirely between themselves and their constituents. All the |Reforin Party needs to do is to hold its hand while the other two sections of the House endeavour to deal with a situation not of its making. If they cannot handle it, the Reform Party will be iu 110 way responsible for the failure. Should this position develop, as is not improbable, there is always the constitutional provision for a fresli appeal to the country. RcsorL is made to it in other parts of the Empire ; Great Britain has used it within recent years; Canada has used it, so have Australia and South Africa. If, after time enough has been given for all possibilities to be tested, it is found the country has given only a negative verdict at this election, it should be asked for an other that will be positive. There is a tendency iu New Zealand to suggest that a dissolution and a fresh election should be avoided at all costs. The view is quite unjustified. for the device is of long standing, thoroughly constitutional in every way, and a practical means of escape from deadlock. The chance of an appeal is still rather remote for further discussion. The out standing point is that responsibility for the immediate future rests with the United Party and the Labour Party, and not with the retiring Government. That is (he undoubted result of the election.