The Sun SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1914. THE RIVAL POLICIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 235, 7 November 1914, Page 8

The Sun SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1914. THE RIVAL POLICIES.

The Reform Party's election festo, which was issued yesterday, is a vigorous counterblast to Sir Joseph Ward's policy Bpecch. Like the latter, it contains legislative proposals that would keep any political party busy much longer than the three years that is the allotted span of Parliaments in New Zealand. Accordingly, wo may look forward to being told three years hence that the Reform Party promised certain things in 1914 and failed .to carry them out. Still, if the work of the past three years is any guide, the next three will be pretty busy, and the public should be able to bear with equanimity the jettisoning of half its plans by whichever party is in power after the elections. Mr Massey's manifesto is iull of good intentions, and furnishes ample evidence of the Government's desire to legislate for the good of all classes, and administer public affairs honestly and capably. It is open to criticism, however, in at least two important particulars. It does not indicate with sufficient clearnessthat the Government is desirous of effecting financial reforms thijlt it laid great stress upon while in. opposition, especially in regard to the keeping of the public accounts, and secondly the manifesto appears, to take for granted that the ante-bellum conditions will soon be restoredy: enabling .the*'' Dominion to engross itselfas /before, almost entirely in its domestic affairs. To our thinking, that time has gone by forever, as far as the present generation is con- . cerned. External affairs relating to naval defence'and Imperial relations will demand much more attention in the future than they have received in the past/ Further, there is no sign of any end to the war that has revolutionised,. in a few short weeks, the world's economic conditions. Even if it is brought to a satisfactory close frorir the "AlKe's r standpoint, the reorganisation of the industrial life of France, and Germany will take years. The sudden cessation of military expenditure, the < reaction consequent on the discharge of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and the

necessity of' finding civil employment for them, imist cause a very serious' economic depression in .Europe. New Zealatfd, altlibugh happily situated at the otlicr side of the world from the scene of 'earnage, is ly6und to share the after eff«ctsj and wise statesmanship at the present juncture; would concern itself mainly with putting our financial house in order, so that the Dominion may be in the best possible position to weather the trouble when it comes. All fresh 5 spending schemes other than those calculated to facilitate wealth production should be resisted, but we rev cognise that it is quite hopeless to expect any political party to preach self-denial and economy on the eve of a general election- Party' warfare a,t election times resolves itself largely into a matter of window dressing, and -the side that is able to make the most attractive display is supposed to benefit thereby at the spoils. - Like rival a traders," one • party cannot afford to neglect window displays if the other fellow is relying on them. If it did so, it might jusfcf as well put up the shutters and go out of business. The electors will do well, however, to scrutinise and compare the men behind the counter and the personnel of the firm, as well as the goods that are on offer. The point the people have to decide is whether they prefer the country to be run by Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Russell, Mr Myers, Mr Atmore, Mr Isitt, and the rest, or the Government which has been in power since tho Liberals went to pieces in 1911.