THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1925, Page 6

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Everyone regrets that for health reasons Mr. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, has been compelled to resign his office and go abroad for recuperation, and will hope that the rest he is about to take will restore his health completely. Public life of any kind is strenuous and exacting, but leadership of a political party makes considerable demands both upon a man’s time and his physical resources. Since Mr. Wilford stepped into the position rendered vacant by ths death of Mr. McDonald, he has not shirked his duties nor spared himself in any way. His health, never quite ro'bust since his operation at Home, has suffered in consequence. But he is yet in the prime of life, and a prolonged spell may bring him a complete recovery of physical vigour. His resignation comes at an awkward time for his party, though it cannot be said that he has been a pronounced success as a leader, some of the old followers of Sir Joseph Ward never acknowledging their allegiance to him. Mr. Forbes has been elected his successor. He is not an inspiring force either, though-he possesses many estimable qualities. If the Liberals are to increase their strength in the country they must have as a leader a man who has personality, ability and imagination. Not even his best friend would claim for Mr. Forbes a possession of all these attributes. But he is probably the best man available for the position. Come to think of it the House is singularly poorly off these days for men of outstanding merit and leadership. Mr. Coates’ team is very uneven in quality, and must prove a source of embarrassment rather than of strength to a virile, progressive Prime Minister. Some of the members of the Labour Party are not deficient in capacity, but their whole training has been along narrow class lines, preventing them from viewing a subject from all sides, and unfitting them for the task of administration, whilst their ideas and ideals are such as to render them unacceptable to a patriotic, enterprising and moderate-minded people. The present Parliament bide fair to run its normal length, and Mr. Coates will then go to the public for an expression of confidence. Mr. Forbes will probably do the same. On the result will depend whether fusion of the two moderate parties is necessary or desirable. The difference between ‘their policies is not particularly marked, the position practically resolving itself into a question of the calibre and personality of the leaders.