THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1923. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1923. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Uncertaintt continues to add a piquant element to the political situation, and some time will probably elapse before the position will become sufficiently clarified to permit of the formulation of definite plans and policy for the future. The results of the election petitions which have to be decided may affect the present position of parties, but it is unlikely that any developments arising out of them will materially influence the course of events. With a party nearly twicers strong ns the stronger of the present Opposition parties, and much more cohesive than any possible amalgamation against him, Mr Massey unquestionably occupies the strongest strategical position. The view that the alternative to strengthening his position in the House is another appeal to the electors has been strongly expressed by Sir John Findlay in an interview during the week. After recognising the impossibility of a combination between the Liberal and Labour parties, for this, he holds, may be ruled out of serious contemplation in view of the unequivocal declarations of both the Liberal and Labour leaders prior to the election, Sir John Findlay says:—

The policies of the Reform and Liberal parties have steadily converged upon oa£h. other; there is now really little that materially separates . them, and some kind of concordat between them seems the best solution of the Jbresent impasse. I believe at any rate that this country would prefer such a concordat to another general election, which would probably reproduce the present situation in a more aggravated form.

There can be no doubt that a general election is not only not desired by the people, and least of all by the successful candidates, and we have had no hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that Parliament will devise a method by which a dissolution may be avoided. Moreover, the method maybe of such a kind as will serve the interests of the dominion as a whole. If Sir John Findlay’s analysis of the policies of the parties is sound—and we are unable to discern any unsoundness in it—it follows that an amalgamation of harmonised political forces is 'not only the right solution of the present difficulty, but is necessary for the future protection of the electorates against a wellorganised minority. The only excuse for political divisions consists in the existence of sharp differences of political principle. At bedrock there is no plain dividing line between the best and safest elements in the Reform ana Liberal parties, and their association together, if necessary under a new name and with a progressive programme, would combine and protect the great moderate section of the country against ill-digested and dangerous efforts at revolutionary reform. Sir John Findlay also dealt with the constitutional position of Ministries which have failed to secure a majority at the polls. In the present instance Mr Massey failed to gain a clear majority of the seats, but he is infinitely stronger than either of the other leaders, and consequently is more than justified in meeting Parliament to learn its intentions regarding future government. Sir John Findlay points out that while some Ministries have resigned before the meeting of Parliament, other Ministries have retained office until the House assembled. The first and second Salisbury Ministries in 1886 and 1892 and the Balfour Ministry in 1905—this affording the last guiding precedent—though in each case in a minority, awaited a vote of want of confidence in the House of Commons before resigning. There is, Sir John pointed out, therefore no uniform constitutional practice on the point, and he agrees W'ith the opinion which wo have expressed that Mr Massey is entitled to retain office until the meeting of the House, when the question of confidence or want of confidence in the Ministry will be determined—in all likelihood, in a manner favourable to the present occupants of office.