THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 57

THE GENERAL ELECTION

ISSUE BEFORE THE ELECTORS. REFORM PARTY’S CLAIMS. STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. AUCKLAND, December 7. A statement reviewing the political character of the parties soliciting the support of the electors on Thursday was made this evening by the Prime Minister. Ho enunciated reasons why the people should ensure the maintenance in office of the Reform Government, which is firm and free to act for the good of the whole dominion and of the Empire.” Mr Massey said:—“The people’s choice of Government has never been as important as it is this year, when the whole Empire is engaged in a lifc-and-death struggle with Germany. Matters of domestic politics have to take necessarily a secondary place till the Empire’s challenger has been thoroughly conquered. The people have to choose between the Reform Government and a Ward Government for probably the next three years in the ordinary course. “The first question which thoughtful electors have to put to themselves is: which will bo the stronger and more reliable Government from a national and Imperial viewpoint during this great crisis? From that viewpoint can any advantage be expected from a change of Government? What evidence is there on which to base a hope of any such advantage? What are the facts? The truth is that the Reform Government has conducted the country’s business with a clear mind and a steady purpose ever since the war began. By the preparations made in time of peace by the Reform Government, despite persistent allegations by Opposition journals that the objective was a standing army and militarism run made, New Zealand was able to be the first of the dominions to send out a fully-equipped Expeditionary Force of trained men. While the Opposition, apparently carried away by excitement, clamoured for a closing of Parliament Buildings, the Government firmly avoided a procedure which would surely have had a disturbing effect on the public mind. The legislation made necessary by the outbreak of war was promptly undertaken, and then the regular sessional work was resumed. Time has proved the wisdom of that course. The Government has been able to make satisfactory financial arrangements for the country’s needs, and the Ministry can fairly claim that its methods have inspired confidence in New Zealand and abroad. From a defence viewpoint the public cannot possibly expect any advantage from a change of Government. On the contrary, there is strong reason for the public to fear a distinct disadvantage from a change. “ Indisputable proof has been given that the Ward Party relies on the aid of the Social Democrats, who are admittedly ‘Red’ Federationists in political guise against the Reform Government. Mr M'Combs (the Social Democrat member for Lyttelton) said at Christchurch as far back as last February that the basis of the bargain between the Ward Party and the Social Democratic Party would bo proportional representation (a quota of ‘ Red ’ Federationists in Parliament), and Sir Joseph Ward has offered a vague proportional scheme for the House of Representatives. -In 1912 the Waihi strike, which began two months before the Reform Government came into power, revealed the extreme character of the ‘Red’ Federation of Labour, but on July 22, 1913 (only three months before the Wellington Waterside Union, affiliated to the ‘ Red ’ Federation, began the big strike by creating a good agreement), the New Zealand Times, one of the Ward Party’s principal supporters, declared editorially:—‘Mr Webb (the Social Democrat candidate for Grey) is something more than a Syndicalist. He is president of the Federation of Labour, which aims at the same ultimate political objective as the Liberal Party. It may be disposed to make the pace hotter than the Liberals have hitherto been prepared to proceed, but what of that, so long as the two parties are traversing parallel progressive lines.’ 1c may be true that the Federation of Labour is working to destroy the defence system, but it does not follow that Mr Webb will destroy it.’ The Lyttelton Times stated in an editorial of July 31, 1913, that ‘ The Liberals supported Mr Webb because they know that nine-tenths of his policy was their own.’ The Maoriiand Worker stated on August 1, 1913; —‘Those who voted for the candidate (Mr Webb) of the Social Democratic Party did so knowing that his colour was undiluted —“Red.” They voted for him knowing that he stood for Revolutionary Socialism in politics. The Social Democratic Party stands first and foremost for the transformation of the capitalist estate in the co-operative commonwealth, which is the Socialist Republic.’ Towards the close of the strike, when the ‘ Red ’ Federationists and Social Democrats were running Mr M'Combs for tne Lyttelton scat, the New Zealand stated on December 10: —‘The seat must bo won by the Federation of Labour. In deciding between the two candidates the Liberals may be depended upon to vote for progress. The Lyttelton Times, an inveterate supporter of the Ward Party, stated on December 5 (the eve of the final ballot) that the platform of the Social Democrats was '‘plainly based on that of the Progressive Liberals.’ This is convincing proof that desperate attempts were made to arrange a combine of the Ward Party and the ‘Red’ Federationists against the Reform Government. Sir Joseph Ward himself said in the Wellington Town Hall on December 4 that ho was convinced that the people were going to put back the Liberals and the Progressives behind the Liberals. By the word 'Liberals’ the Leader of the Opposition mount, of course, the "Ward Party. The word ‘Progressives,’ as used pershtontly by the Ward Party, the Opposition press, and the Maoriiand Worker, includes the Social Democrats and the ‘Red’ Federationists, New Zealanders have to ponder on the fact that the industrial ‘Red’ Federation and its political expression, the Social Democratic Party, are uncompromisingly hostile to the present national system of defence, which the official organ, the Maoriiand Worker, has denounced in a frenzy of lurid language. The ‘Red’ Federation is also irreconcilably opposed to the Arbitration Act. My colleagues and I have never questioned the willingness of the Opposition to co-operate with the Government for the good of the Empire; but I do say that a party which involves itself with the Social Democratic Party and the ‘Red’ Federation, in order to capture the Treasury benches, cannot hope to do as good service as the Reform Party can do tor New Zealand and the Empire. The Re-

form Party is completely opposed to the ‘Red’ Federatiomsts, and is utterly untrammelled for national and imperial work. “The second great question lor the electors is: Which will be the bettor Government for a domestic policy—the home business for New Zealand V What are the facts ? The Reform Government came in for a legacy of financial difficulties from the pre vious Administration end the Red’ Federationists. The Waihi strike was then in full force. The smallpox epidemic, the transport strike, and other difficulties, for which the Government was not responsible, were crowded into a space of two years, and finally came the war. No Government in this country was ever more severely tested; but the Administration has come through the ordeal with a credit which is acknowledged by unbiassed people hero and abroad, in the Departments of Finance, Lands, Agriculture, the Public Service, social legislation, railways, trade and commerce, Labour, education, and national defence exceedingly important reforms to the whole public have been effected. It is true that additional expenditure has been incurred by the more liberal provision for pensions, and by increases of salary for tho public service, the railway service, teachers, and police, but this has been effected without a single penny or increase in the rate of taxation on the general mass of the public. The only increase has been on the comparatively wealthy classes. “In every department of State the achievement of the Reform Government marks an inprovement on the record of its predecessors, and this progress is to be continued on the lines of the plain plan of commonsense outlined in the Government’s unpretentious programme a few weeks ago. Stability has been assured for industries by the check given to the ‘Red’ Federation, and every man has a right to work in peace, with fair and full opportunity. The Reform policy is on a basis to ensure a good use of the land, with a corresponding increase of the national wealth, for the benefit of all classes. In brief, tho Reform plan is commonsense government by the cardinal principles of public health, public wealth, and national safety, ensuring good times, good wages, and equal opportunities. “When voting for any candidate, whatever may bo his personal merits, each elector has a very grave repsonsibility to the whole community, for each elector votes for government by either the Reform Party or by the Ward Party, which is dependent upon the support of tho extreme Socialists. An admission to that effect was made in Wellington on Decern; 2byMr H. Holland, who is opposing the Hon. Mr Herdman in Wellington North. New Zealanders can therefore see the extreme importance of tho national factor when using their votes This is not a time for the personal clement to prevail against Now Zealand’s need, which is a Government firm and free to act for the good of the whole dominion and the Empire. The Reform Government has proved its ability in times of greet difficulty to legislate and to administer for the benefit of all classes. The Reform Party has thoroughly earned the people’s confidence.”