THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, November 23, 1936. WORDS IN SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, November 23, 1936. WORDS IN SEASON

The statements which the late Leader of the Opposition and the present leader of the National Party have made with reference to the threat of a split in the latter party are opportune and necessary. There could be no greater mistake on the part of the anti-Socialists in the community than the diffusion of their strength. It was with the object of avoiding any such calamity and of consolidating the forces opposed to the Government that the National Party, replacing the coalition of the Reform and United Parties, was brought into existence. The platform of this party should' be sufficiently broad to accommodate not only members and supporters of the Reform and United Parties, but also those classes of the electors that have maintained an attitude of political independence in the past but are concerned and alarmed by the indications that the Government now in power is disposed to go to lengths for which the utterances of the Prime Minister and his colleagues prior to their accession to office had not prepared the public. All the members of the Opposition are members of the National Party and it is, in the circumstances, an extraordinary suggestion that has been put forward by one of their number that "the present crisis offers the opportunity for the [Reform and United] parties to split and for the revival of the Reform Party."" Mr Forbes has expressed the conviction that any division of the anti-Socialists at the present time would be absolutely suicidal. This declaration should commend itself to the common sense of every person who feels, that the programme of the Government is one that is fraught with mischief and danger. The splitting of the opponents of the Government into two sections might not have, as Mr Forbes thinks it might have, the effect of creating a fresh split, but it is surely obvious that it would be seriously prejudicial to the success of their efforts. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Prime Minister should be rubbing his hands in satisfaction over the development that has occurred. His own party does not make any public parade of its differences, which are said to be not wholly insignificant. It does not allow th#m to be carried outside the caucus room. The iron discipline which is maintained within the Labour Party prevents the open disclosure of the existence of any dissatisfaction within its ranks. It is perfectly plain that there are members of the National Party who might with advantage to themselves and to their country observe towards their leader some such loyalty as the Labour Party exacts from its members. Nothing could be more encouraging to the Government or rnore discouraging to its opponents than the spectacle of members of the National Party squabbling over its leadership and seeking to upset a decision which, as far as we know, was arrived at properly and fairly and which, as Mr Hamilton says, must stand until it is altered in the same way as it was made. There is a very substantial proportion—in all likelihood a growing proportion—of the electors that is deeply apprehensive about the future of the Dominion if the present Government should survive the next election. It is the earnest desire and hope of the electors, who are thus concerned about the policy that is being pursued by the Government, that there should be an effective organisation to which they may give their support. But this organisation will to a large extent be robbed of its efficiency if it does not embrace under one leader all the divers elements that are opposed to the Government and if unswerving loyalty it not shown to that leader.