The Daily News THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1934. COUNTRY OR PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 4

The Daily News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1934. COUNTRY OR PARTY.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH, Currie Street. STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA, High Street.

If it is true that the Reform Party wing of the Coalition has determined against a permanent fusion of the anti-Socialist political forces, the decision seems a grave error of judgment. The justification of the Coalition was that conditions in the Dominion demanded the abandonment of “party” consideration of suggestions made to Parliament for recovery. The best solution would have been a really National Government representing all the political parties, but as this did not commend itself to the Labour Party a coalition of the anti-Labour forces was the next best thing. The Coalition received the endorsement of the electorate, and if approval of all its actions is not general, many of the efforts made by the nonparty Government have been appreciated. Inside Parliament cohesion among the Government’s supporters has been maintained. In the electorates there has not been the same disposition to sink party differences to aid a national recovery among the supporters of the Coalition. It is all very well to argue that the Coalition Ministry represents an attempt to deal with emergencies, and that as the worst of the Dominion’s difficulties have been overcome there can now be a return to old-time political allegiances even though this may mean division of the forces that are opposed to dangerous experiments in regard to the Dominion’s monetary system and to the general socialisation of New Zealand. Whether justifiably or not, the leaders responsible for such division will be held by the electorate to have put personal or party advantage before the welfare of the Dominion, and the public is usually swift to express disapproval of self-seeking in the control of public affairs. If the disapproval meant but the disappearance of one set of individual politicians for another it could be viewed with equanimity. If an error were made the cost of rectifica--tion could be accounted as part of the price paid for self-govern-ment. But those who have given loyal support to the Coalition believed it stood for opposition to dangerous political experiment, and have noted with satisfaction that the Government has tried to avoid any short cuts back to prosperity, though many consider the artificial exchange rate an error for which the Dominion must yet pay dearly. It is not a question of what men shall sit on the Ministerial benches in Parliament so much as what policy is likely to assist the Dominion to recover from the difficulties with which it is faced. Those who believe the Labour Party’s policy stands for dangerous experiment and unsound economics find themselves amazed that the mischief such a policy could bring about could be lost sight of in party tactics or the desire for leadership among groups of the forces that should be too earnestly engaged in seeking means to recovery, and in educating the electorate to understand the danger of wild experiments to have time for nursing party quarrels or seeking party advantage. The' Coalition sought and obtained a mandate to do all it could to bring about financial recovery. It has met with some success, but the task is by no means complete. The Dominion’s greatest industry is being strangled with low prices, and if a large proportion of the Coalition chooses such a time to emphasise party differences and refuse to close up the ranks of those opposed to Socialism and all it stands for, it is hard to see where the patriotism of such action lies, If a break in the antiLabour forces comes it will be surprising if those responsible for it find the same attractiveness in party shibboleths and banners they once discovered. The experiences of the past few years have forced a new mental attitude upon those who at one time believed that political health could be found only by the application of certain party principles. To-day there is not that certitude in party government. There is a belief, however, that national problems demand nationally-minded consideration if they are to be solved. It is a belief that is likely to find expression when the electorate is asked to support party programmes suggested by those to whom the public gave authority as being leaders no longer influenced by party exigencies or desires.