THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1923. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1923. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The general elections in Australia and in New Zealand last month produced a like result attributable to a,like cause. In each country the Government of tho day did not succeed in securing tho return of a majority of members of Parliament definitely pledged to support it. In each country this result was due to the existence of at least three political parties, but in each country, also, two of these three parties are opposed to the policy of the third party, the Labour Party. The resemblance, however, between the political situation in Australia and that in New Zealand ends here. The Government in Australia has come back from the election 1 with a party that does not possess a numerical superiority over each of the other parties in the House of Representatives. In New Zealand, on the other hand, the party supporting the Reform Government is numerically far the strongest in Parliament. It is only two members short of constituting one-half of the entire Parliament. Its strength is equal to that of the Liberal and Labour parties combined, four Independent members completing tho House. But a combination of the Liberal And Labour Parties with the object. of ousting the Government and forming a new Administration is impossible. The Liberal Party includes two or three members who have stated distinctly and emphatically that they would support the Reform Government rather than a Government composed of members of their own party which would havo to rely for its existence on the support of the Labour Party. To ;a Labour Government—if such a contingency were conceivable in circumstances in which the Labour Party is only 17 strong in a House of 80—they would bo uncompromisingly opposed. Between them and at least two of the Independent members there is probably no great difference of opinion on this point. The conclusion is clear, therefore, that for the duration of, tho present Parliament it will be a Reform Party or, perhaps, to be more strictly accurate, a party led by Mr Massey that will be in power. For tho possibility that it may have to be a reconstructed Government is not entirely to be ignored.’ If, for example, Mr Massey should have to be defeated before the political situation can be completely clarified, it is not to bo assumed that the Government which he would form upon coming back to office would necessarily be identical with the present Government. He would have to recognise tho need for the inclusion in it of a Liberal element in order that the stability of the Administration might be assured. There is already one portfolio at his disposal—or there should be, for we confess that we should have expected the resignation by Mr Lee of his Ministerial offices, to be announced by this time. A reasonable time must necessarily be allowed after the defeat of a Minister to enable him to complete departmental business which ho had undertaken but the four weeks which have elapsed since the declaration of the poll should have sufficed for this purpose in Mr Lee’s case. But whether Mr Massey is to bo defeated on a want of confidence motion prior to such party readjustments being effected as will be* necessary to admit of the re-establish-ment of stable government will depend upon the interpretation which a few members place on the pledges they have given to their constituents. There may ho no imperative necessity for them to vote against Mr Massey in the coming short session as a preliminary to their voting for him later on. Since the state of parties imposes on them an obligation to support him eventually it will be for them to consider and to decide to what extent' their pledges would admit of their supporting him in the first division in the new Parliament. But whatever else may happen, of this we may bo perfectly sure that the House will be so able to adjust the party relationships that there will be no fresh appeal to the country. There has been no more idle talk since tho Parliament ■was elected than the talk of another dissolution.