ORGANISING “REFORM.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8191, 5 August 1912, Page 6

ORGANISING “REFORM.”

The first national conference of the “ New Zealand Political Reform League ” was opened in Wellington on Saturday.

The thoroughness shown by the “ Reformers " in consolidating their political organisation will undoubtedly have good result, for its first effect must be to stir up other sections of the community to the necessity for continued activity. The conference of party delegates which opened in Wellington on Saturday and burst into “Rule Britannia” when the Prime Minister appeared on the scene were evidently very much in earnest. They are also more or less representative of a considerable part of the electorate. Their choral efforts can be regarded with the sympathetic feelings due to those who have achieved rather more than they hoped for. This exuberance of spirit is, of course, not to be looked upon as an indication that our friends intend to rest upon their oars in the fancied security of perpetual safety. On the contrary, they-see the need for even better organisation than they had before, and are taking the necessary steps to impress the public and to solidify their forces. That there is sound reason for the “ Reformers ” having an uneasy feeling that they are not going to have things all their own way later on we all know. Moreover, the position of the Ministry is such that though it may contemplate the immediate future with a reasonable degree of complacency it must obviously bo anxious to obtain a sounder popular backing than the precarious sup port it now relics upon. One “ Reformer,” we notic.e, appeared to imagine that the occasion was one calling for effort to put the Ministry in the best- possible light—by way of encouragement, no doubt—and proceeded to show that the Masseyites in the House polled more votes than any one other section of members. This was Mr Harris, who “ oould not see how anyone could say that the present Government did not represent a majority of electors.” Why Mr Harris should want to haggle about this oft: discussed aspect of the situation wo cannot even guess, but reference to his own figures will show his conclusion is absurd. He shows that the members now in the House polled 261,139 votes. Of these the Masseyites secured 128,20 i —a minority of the votes represented in Parliament, Iso torturing of the voting statistics will show anything else than this. There were 479,31votes recorded at the general election, and if Mr Harris believes the quota obtained by the Masseyites expresses a desire on the part of . the electors for ‘‘ Reform,” the only possible comment is that such an idea reveals amazing obtuseness. The one certain fact is that the Mas. seyites are in possession, and we suggest that they can derive rather more satisfaction from that fact than from the quaint arithmetic of the gentleman from Waitemata. Such a ‘Tally ■ as that held on Saturday will naturally assist the party organisers in their work, but to outsiders it seems an inversion of recognised procedure to hear ail this jubilation before the Ministerial policy has been announced. Mr Massey, fiowever, promised a policy of "ease and happiness,” Mr Herdmau promised to “emulate the example of great British statesmen.” and Mr Pis her gave an assurance that to-mor-row’s Budget would be “ one of the best.” This was at least something to go on with—an instalment of the glad tidings yet to come, by which “ a strong and healthy public opinion ” shall be rallied to the standard of “ Reform.”