THE LIBERAL POLICY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8646, 3 February 1914, Page 4

THE LIBERAL POLICY

. The article from the pen of Sir John Findlay headed “The Fate of’Liberalism.” which we publish in another part of this issue, is entitled to the serious consideration of every individual of democratic conviction. It raises and discusses the question whether the time has arrived for the declaration of the policy of the Liberal party. We incline strongly to the opinion that it has not. For two years the country has been waiting for the policy of the Massey Government. It is still waiting. Unquestionably, the “Reformers” are looking for a policy, and if the Liberal programme were announced tomorrow the Tories might fairly be depended upon to seize upon any. part of it that was acceptable and adapt it to their own purposes, leaving the Liberals with the dry bones. When we say this, we do not suggest that the “Reformers” are anxious to pass liiberal measures into law. Such a course might be disagreeable to them, but nevertheless it would be a useful means to a desirable end, and that end ‘is to continue in office and preserve to themselves the power of administrative control. To achieve this objective, they are prepared to make concessions to popular sentiment, and they have even done so by posing as converts to the Liberal statutes of the last twenty years. But if,' as is suggested, they are administering in a friendly spirit the measures they formerly opposed with such bitter malignance it does not necessarily follow that their conversion is sincere or that they have changed either in heart or faith. Mr Massey has never carried the country with him, though he would dearly love to do bo, and there is ground for something more than suspicion that his present pose of friendliness towards the legislation he formerly condemned is inspired by a desire to win the confidence of the democracy at the next general election. He has certainly not proposed to repeal any ot the Liberal legislation, beyond grant, mg the freehold and destroying the second ballot without furnishing the substitute he had promised, but it does not follow that he would not do so if be had behind him a sufficient majority to enable him to accomplish that purpose. Given that majority, what guarantee is there that he will continue to favour and administer the Liberal statutes that he formerly opposed? There is no guarantee. Just as they repealed the Second Ballot Act without providing the substitute they had promised, we believe the Masseyites would also repeal the State Advances to Settlers and Workers schemes, Land for Settlements Act, the Old Age Pension Acts, the Factories and Industrial Arbitration Acts, and the State Fire Insurance Act, if they were strong enough to attempt reactionary changes. Until their party majority is secured, independent of “rats,” they dare no t_ show their hand, and we believe that is why the pretence of friendliness is being made to the Liberal legislation of the last twenty years. Just in tE© same way, in default of a policy of its own, the Massey Government would seize upon and convert to its own purpose such parts of the Liberal policy that, while being popular with the people, were not directly antagonistic to the class interests that “Reform” exists to protect and maintain. "For some mor.t>is to come, there is useful work to be done bv the Liberals, in criticising the administration of the self-styled “Reformers,” and more fully exposing their insincerities, pretensions, and misrepresentations. Mr Massey himself says the time for the declaration of a party policy is immediately before the general election. If that is so, the Liberals can afford to take a leaf out of their opponents’ book, and when the policy of ‘"Reform” is before the country, if it ever materialises, the time will have arrived for the policy of the Liberals to be placed beside it. leaving the people to decide for themselves, with which party the prospects of democratic progress lie.