The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1928 TACT AND TACTICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1928 TACT AND TACTICS

|I®ANY a Government lias been in office but not in power. 01 It is evident that the Ward Administration will be of this character, but if Sir Joseph Ward’s boundless ambition to occupy, again, the places of the mighty, betrays him into many such tactical blunders as yesterday’s, lie will not wield his circumscribed authority for long. As an effort to magnify the virility of his party. Sir Joseph’s division on the paltry question of whether or no a State paper be presented, was nothing better than a superfluous thrust at the meticulous scruples of the retiring Ministers. It won the United Party no tactical advantage. The Labour Party, on which it will clearly have to rely for support—though Mr. Holland has shown that his support will not be proffered with any prodigal hand—was disqualified from the outset from supporting Sir Joseph on. this division. Had the division won its purpose, it would have turned the Government out of office straight away, and this would have denied Labour the chance of putting its attitude before the country. Sir Joseph’s ill-advised division has shown his weaknesses as a political strategist. In an effort to be dramatic, he has been rather theatrical. The result of the division shows where the United Party stands. With the support of one Labourite, it registered 33 votes out of a total of 76. It will take office as a minority Government, for Labour’s fickle support will not conceal its intrinsic weakness—and the fact that each of the other parties is in a slightly worse position will not make its own condition any more endurable when the inevitable catastrophe arrives. Sir Joseph’s defiance of his foes, Ms scorn of any servile overtures to the Labour Party—all this is a very proper spirit, but it is a spirit that should be tempered with diplomacy. He professes no fear whatever of another election, yet who would say that the niai-gins on which Messrs. Donald and Fletcher hold their seats, in Auckland alone, are robust enough to stand another and hotter campaign? Moreover—and this point must not be overlooked—it is not for Sir Joseph alone to say that he will go to the country again if the expected favours are withheld. Some of his followers may have other views; and the Governor-General, who has to exhaust all possible methods before he resorts to a dissolution, might find an alliance among the rank and file a practicable remedy. These considerations, seemingly remote, are brought within the range of reasonable discussion by the indications that Sir Joseph lacks the dexterity without which the allegiances necessary for his survival cannot exist. The most interesting feature of the colourful political page added to history yesterday was Mr. Holland’s definite statement that the Labour Party will retain absolute independence. Its support of the United group, though conceded where broad humanitarian issues are in the balance, may be summarily withdrawn over a mere quibble. Mr. Downie Stewart, too, made an interesting contribution, and his assurance that the necessary loan authorities already exist makes Sir Joseph’s posturings more artificial than ever. Sir Joseph himself was twitted because he failed to define a policy of his own, hut he was not called upon to do so. He was entitled to make criticism of the Government his main theme, and that criticism would naturally follow the trend of his electioneering addresses. It is when he meets the House with his Ministry at the back of him that lie will have to state his policy. And then, subject to the enactments he proposes, his real troubles will begin.