The Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1922. THE COMING ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16876, 30 October 1922, Page 6

The Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1922. THE COMING ELECTION.

The political campaign throughout the Dominion is to be opened in earnest this week. A few of the candidates have already addressed the electors., and with the rising of Parliament the sitting members will be liberated to defend their 6eats. The Leader of the Opposition is to make a policy speech at Petone this evening, and his announcement of the Liberal platform will be awaited with the greatest interest. We hope that it will lead to the heeling of the breach which has occurred m the Liberal Party, and secure for Mr Wilford tho loyalty which is essential if there a to be successful leadership. Mr Wilford takes with him into the campaign an expression of the confidence of his followers, and congratulations on the manner in which he has discharged the duties of leader since his accession to that office. The possible re-entry of Sir Joseph Ward into politics is being freely discussed, and no doubt an announcement will be made at an early date. We are confident that Sir Joseph, if his health permits, will become a candidate, and that his return to the House is assured if he stands. The country sorely needs the services of men of his capacity and experience, and the House would certainly benefit by his presence. Tlis financial position of the country, the necessity for a fundamental review of the burden of taxation, demand that legislators experienced in financial problems should be available for consultation, and in this connection there is not a better man in sight than Sir Joseph Ward. The country as a whole would welcome his return to Parliament. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Government has not the confidence of the country and that what it is waiting for is an alternative to the Reform Party. The Liberal Party supplies the only practicable alternative. Labour Party is a peculiar mixture of extremists and moderates, and there is no desire to put the affairs of the country into the hands of Mr Holland and his comrades. It will take the Labour Party a long time to convince the. electors that it is able to assume office and give effect to its objective, the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. The experience of other countries is that the Labour Party is no sooner >n power than it loses all enthusiasm fot the realisation of its programme. Re sponsibility has a sobering effect, and Labour Cabinets find that they are face to face with the same difficulties which confront the most capitalistic of administrations. The foundations of society cannot be uprooted in a day by an Act of Parliament, and the new order cannot take the place of the old with out proper provision having been made in anticipation of the change. The Liberal Party stands for the legitimate aspirations of the workers, and when it ceases to do so it will go out of existence. Practically -every advance made in industrial reform has been due to legislation parsed by the Liberals. The Reform Government, on the other hand, has done little for “ the under dog,” and whenever it proposes to undertake Labour legislation the workers become suspicious. With the supporters of the moderates among the workers the Liberal Party can be restored to its old position. and we know that there are many workers who are attached to the principles of Liberalism. The country has tried the Reformers for ten years, and the verdict at the December polls will be one of “ guilty.”