EDITORIAL NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1123, 17 December 1914, Page 6

EDITORIAL NOTES

As far as can he seen now, and unless there are one or two more surprise packets in reserve, the political parties in Parliament have come out all square. In other words, the Massey Government has been defeated. That is to say, after the Massey Government has re-elected its old Speaker it will be one vote short on a test want of confidence. Against the wishes of wiser men ou their*side, and in contempt of the advice of Sir Joseph Ward, the "Reformers" have precipitated' the issue, and have only themselves to blame for the unfortunate position in which, N'ew Zealand finds itself in the 'face of a grave national emergency;

The question now is: What is to be done about it P It is quite clear that even if the matter is at .once put to the test, and the Progressives are successful, they in their turn cannot carry on. ■ The alternative is an appeal to the conntry—another election. In this contingency we naturally turn to the Government journals to see what they have to say about the. problem. The Wellington' ''Post,'-' which is in turn the warm ally and the candid friend of the " Reformers," says, " the patriotism of the parties should at least save us from a dissolution at-this time above all others." TheCHristchurch "Press" sees "no constitutional reason why the present Ministry should not continue to exercise all the functions of Government until -the House meets at the usual time in.June next."

In a similar crisis three years ago, the "Press"' took quite a 'different'attitude. After' the usual talk about " Wardism," and the customary allegations of "bribery," " intrigue " and '*'' secret influences," our contemporary said: "Sir Joseph Ward does not yet admit that he is beaten. .... .That

is a matter which will be settled by the House when it meets, -and we cannot too strongly insist that the sooner it is called together .the better. . . .

The people will watch with jealous eye to see what takes place, and will sternly resent any attempt by means of Ministerial intrigue to foil and circumvent the expressed wish- of the country. It would be, highly unconstitutional for a Prime Minister in the- discredited position in which Sir Joseph Ward now finds himself, to attempt to go on with any administrative act of importance until lie'has first of all submitted himself to the will of Parliamen|:" '

If that argument was applicable to the position .of Sir Joseph Ward, surely it must be equally pertinent to the situation in which Mr Massey finds himself. The latter made an appeal to the constituencies to confirm him in hi 3 position of Chief Administrator, and the constituencies have re--1 plied by casting an overwhelming vote against Him. Sir Joseph Ward, 'as the leader.of the Opposition, is faced with this alternative: he must either attempt to give effect' to the will of the

constituencies or he must, having in view the Wider contingencies involved, try and 'induce his Liberal following ond his Labour allies to declare a truce for the purpose of allowing a discredited Government to carry on by sufferance the affairs, of the country until .such time as/it is. convenient ov expedient to force them from the Treasury benches.

The "Evening Post" makes allusion 'to British precedent, and the cohesion of the parties .in the Old Country in the face of the national crisis. Unfortunately, here again the " Reforincrs'' have set a bad example. If, when war was declared, Mr Massey and his Ministry hud taken the leader of the Opposition into their confidence—if, in other words, they had been sportsmanlike enough to play the game~~they would have been in a much stronger position to ask for concessions than they are in to-day. They did not play the game. They treated Sir Joseph Wajd like a pariah and an alien. Not only. did thoy not take advantage of that .statesman's advice and assistance, bnc tbay kept him m absolute ignorance of what was taking place and what was -contemplated. He was not even permitted to know the fact that war was declared until it was announced from the stops of Parliament House by his Majesty's ■representative. It is elmost too much to expect, under those circumstances, that the Progressives ! will allow tho Mar.seyites to continue 'to havo an unfettered and unconditional hold upon the public purse.

The:, position is a very complicated

and" .delicate one, because even if the j Liberals are prepared to allow the min-1 ority representatives to continue to hold the reins, they will have a great difficulty in; persuading their ' Labour confederates to that point of view. The Labour representatives have been scut into Parliament with instructions to

"out Mnssey,'' and they arc not likely to be satisfied with any compromise, unless they are furnished with overwhelming .evidence that such an arrangement is purely temporary and imperative from the Imperial point of view. Even then they will require safeguards.

Unfortunately the past performances of the Massey Administration have not been such a-s to warrant tho assumption that they are competent to do ju«r tice to the country in this or any other emergency. Mr Massey is a-nan of limited capacity, and naturally inclined to blunder, and his colleagues—with the Kdle exception of Hon James Allen—an; men of weak and vacillating temperaments. A stronger and wiser Cabinet would not have precipitated an. election at this time, and a more generous and toWaut. Gahinet would have propitiated instead of alienating tho more puissant of their opponents.

The Liberal and Labour representatives have been called to a conference at Wellington on Tuesday nest. The result of their deliberations will be awaited with interest by the whole of New Zealand. if the outcome is some suggestion for a complete cessation of partisan warfare for a period, and some proposal for the strengthening of the Administration by the-sotting up of a consultative committee, on which the leading 'representatives of tho three parties will Hnd a place, we feel sure it. would -meet with universal approval. .•:-.. ;