The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16421, 23 April 1919, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

An evidently inspired telegram from Auckland appearing in tbe city papers states that an important meeting of members of Parliament, representing constituencies in both islands, has just been concluded in the northern city. It is understood, the telegram states, that tbe business discussed was of the most interesting character and concerned the present political situation in all its phases. Recognition was given to the fact that the politics of the Dominion, in common with those .of all democratic countries in the world, are at a critical stage of evolution, that old political faiths and shibboleths are losing their former virtue and force, and that new policies and principles are being enunciated in order to meet the demands of the period. In the absence of the two political leaders no definite announcement in

regard to policy will be made, but at tbe impending general election freedomof political action will'be claimed and a full announcement of policy will be made. This, it is said by tbe leaders of tbe new movement, will be of tbe most progressive character, covering tbe requirements of both town and country, and tbe telegram adds that, while representatives of all tbe political parties were either present or accounted for at tbe conference, the organisation will be quite independent of the present political parties. Its main object will be to bring about a state of affairs which will unite tbe various shades of political opinion to counter tbe extreme Bolshevism which is at present threatening the world. The fact that the Parliamentary Industries Committee has been in Auckland during the last few days helps us to guess at the personnel of the conference and to estimate the probable weight of the movement. It must not be confused with the Welfare League recently initiated in Wellington, though the published outlines of their objects indicate that the two organisations have almost identical aims, with this exception perhaps, that the Auckland movement—we call it so because the announcement comes from there, and not in the sense that it has originated in Auckland —is a movement from within the political circle, while the Welfare League has had its origin outside. That, however, is not necessarily a bar . against a joining of forces to obtain the com-

mon object, which we take to be a Parliament composed of men of sound and moderate views, who will oppose Bolshevism as well as other admitted evils from which the body politic, has suffered, is suffering, or may suffer in the future unless good, strong, sane mon are sent to "Wellington to curry on the legislative administration of the country. The Welfare League, of which it is proposed to form branches throughout the Dominion, will, if wo understand it aright, endeavour to bring about the election to the next Parliament of men of th? type suggested above, with little regard for their political leanings. The time seems to be singularly opportune for such a movement. If or nearly four years wo have had a National non-party Government. It is generally admitted that in some important respects the party truce, has not been good for the country. Yet we do not want to go back to the old lines of party cleavage, and it seems to us that instead of the next election being fought on the old party lines—Deform, Liberal, and Labour—it would be better to send seventy sound moderate men to Wellington, pledged to principles rather than leaders, and leave it for them to find their own leaders and sort themselves into parties if need be. In other words, they should be men whose first object is the good of the country, sound administration, and a fair deal for every section of the community. Sir Joseph Ward might prove to be the leader most acceptable to the majority, or it might be Mr. Massey, or again it might be neither of those. The two leaders named might see their way to sink their political differences and continue to sit side by side in Parliament, together with sound Labour members, for the Welfare League recognises that Labour is as entitled to representation as any other section of the community, and that a working man, provided that he is not of the extreme variety and that he has character and ability, may be as good a member of Parliament as anyone else. The League’s platform is an elastic one; it Has not been formed to support any particular party or to protect the interests of any class; it is simply out for good sound government, and that, according to the announcement now made, seems to be the object of what we have called the Auckland movement.

as th© people of France and Italy feel very strongly that the sufferings they have endured must be recompensed by future safety against unprovoked attacks. President Wilson looks at the matter from an entirely different imglo and without any practical experience of the problems with which the Conference has to deal. He trusts to agreements to prevent invasion, those with experience to strong frontiers. The suggestions that he will retire in a dudgeon from the Conference because he cannot get his own way are foolish, because no one realises more clearly than President Wilson that the Allies must stand together at all costs, and that this can only be accomplished by compromise when all do not see eye to eye. Wo may therefore assume with some confidence that th© peace treaty, as it ultimately appears, will receive the unanimous support of the Allies. But will it be accepted by the German Government? On this point there is not sufficient evidence to form a definite opinion. Whatever terms are imposed will raise a shriek of pain from the. Germans, who will complain that they are far too hard for any people to bear. It is undoubtedly disappointing, after having planned to bleed Europe white, for Germany to have to extract blood from her own veins, but that is the penalty of defeat, and no one will have tbe least sympathy for the Hun. The Government will assuredly protest as strongly as possible in order to show that it has done everything possible to avoid admitting utter defeat but it will probably yield at last. It has already begun the process of protesting it will ne'er consent, but this need not be taken too seriously.