THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17659, 24 June 1919, Page 5

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK

A "PROGRESSIVE" M.P.'S FORECAST. , OLD DIVISION LINES MUST GO. NO FOR PARTY CRITICISM. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) r|T , AUCKLAND, June 23. j P resen t political situation was dismissed to-day by a northern member of Parliament, who is believed to bo associated with the newt progressive movement. His views were fexpressed in the following iorni: If tlio world-shaking war, with its inevitable influence on men's outlook, can gave iNew Zealand no 'better result than a revival of tho old Massey-Ward feud, then the war has brought us no new vision, and our politics no gain. Yet this is what taces the country. I fear our leaders do not recognise that tho war has worked great changes m the political outlook. People are siok of tho old fetishes, and the "man in j-au puzzled to discover any diinorence between the average Wardite and Masseyito. Labour, seeing only the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedlcdec m tlie two great parties, is unlikely to join up with either organisation. Rather, Labour will nominate its own candidates, and, un.ess some new movement arises to meet tho situation, will unquestionably wrest many seats from both the Ward and Massev parties. J There is also another aspect. The practical difficulties of a political fight between the leaders axe becoming obvious to their respective supporters. The leaders will rtavomuch difficulty in getting fresh ammunition. They have been partners for the past four years. Tiiey are equally responsible for all the war measures and for all th 3 evils, real or imaginary, emanating from the war, and they must defend them, otherwise their tongues will be tied on these quite vital things. Mr Massey <uid Sir James Allen cannot criticise Sir finance and taxation, nor Mr McDonald's butter and wheat policy, or Mr Russell's influenza enormities. Likewise, tho same doctrine of collective Cabinet responsibility will debar Sir Joseph Ward or Mr Wiilford from assailing the Defence Department's administrative mistakes. What then will they talk about' ."Should the orator, in his desperate need for political pabulum, try to revive the old . political cries of 10 or 20 years ago, he will be reminded by his audience that tjueen Anne is dead," and that we live in a new world, which is impatient of antediluvian things. After all it is the future \ vl " c h, really matters. But here again a difficulty will arise. If Mr Maseey's re-con-struetion policy \is as progressive as Sir Joseph Ward's—as is possible—which is the bewildered elector to \ accept? True. Sir ' Joseph Ward may say that the Liberals are better administrators than tho Reformers, but as to this tho public might talcs the view, in the light of the performances of the National Ministry, that iney axe both equally bad in office, and vote for the Labour Partv as the only nossible way out of the dilemma. Altogether the election, so far as a firrht between the two parties is concerned, threatens to bo polemically barren and impossible. No platform oratory can remove the mere artificiality of the present division hno. The time is rips to abob'sh entirely tho old parties, and -'n their place there woitld arise a Progressive or Radical combination opposed by Labour. Sooner or later the political elements of the dominion will resolve themselves naturally into these two great camps, and the sooner the better for good government.