THE PLEA FOR STABILITY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12076, 2 March 1925, Page 6

THE PLEA FOR STABILITY

What is l the value of the Reform plea for stability ‘of government? Measured By words, it is considerable. The word says, “Keep out the ‘Reds’ (at any cost.”' But the actions of the party did not conform,: during the last ; general election, to this deliverance. Reform candidates were set up to oppose Liberal candidates who were opposed strongly by: Labour. One ; instance was very ! striking. Mr ,T. Y. S'eddon was contesting' a seat against the .Labour candidate, with good prospects of victory. But the Reform Party butted ,in with a candidate, split the votes, and thereby made sure of the election of the Labour candidate.: Where, was the paramountcy of stable government? The facts' are simple. The Liberal Party wae there fighting Labour;, the 1 result of the contest was doubtful; the one thing .absolutely certain was that the appeipance of a third candidate must take,, votes from the Liberal side. In the ' face of that certainty the Reformers put up the third candidate. It was their, action which put Mr O’Brien into the seat. But Mr O’Brien represented, in . Reform eyes, according to the statements made by the head of the Reform Party’s organisation, unstable government. The Reformers of the constituency did as they were told, and the result of their voting—ostensibly for staßle government —was to give the seat ,to the representative of instability. One naturally asks how many of the orders issued by the Reform organisation, according to the programme announced by the Hon. AT D. McLeod, will have a similar result?