THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 17 September 1929, Page 8

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Addressing a gathering of his supporters yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition was xnoro outspoken in his comments on the political situation than he has been since his party went out of office. Two things he said were outstanding. First, accepting the present position for what it is, one of instability, he gave an assurance that he and his colleagues were prepared for any eventuality. Their organisation throughout, the country had been tightened up, and their spirits were high. This was a statement appropriate to, and intended for, a party gathering such as ho was addressing, though not without its general interest. The second should lie noted by a wider audience. It shows that of the two Opposition groups the Ileform Party at least is growing increasingly dissatisfied with the performances of the Government. As Mr. Coates rightly observed, ho gave the new Administration, at its very birth, an assurance of assistance and cooperation so long as its proposals did not conflict with the principles for which ho and his colleagues stood. The response has been a campaign of almost continuous abuse and insinuation, mostly aimed at himself personally, but also directed in some instances at others who held portfolio in his Ministry. Some members of the Government appear to think that if they can only succeed in discrediting their predecessors sufficiently, they will assure their own position. It is bad tactics for two reasons. In the first place, the Government is not so secure in its own place as to be able to afford a campaign of irritation—and not so confident in issuing challenges to face the country as it was. Again, the country will not be content to listen indefinitely to charges against Mr. Coates and his Government while those who spend so much time in making them are also exceedingly dilatory in developing the programme on which they based their appeal to the country. The session is now approaching the end of its third month, and all that has been done or attempted by the Government is little enough to discourage its most ardent supporters. In view of this, in view of the plain warning from the Leader of the Opposition, the Government should cease trying to make debating points and come to grips with business.