The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1923. REFORM PLATITUDES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16938, 12 January 1923, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1923. REFORM PLATITUDES.

The members of the Reform Party held their caucus in Wellington yesterday. According to Mr Massey it was

“ a great success,” but it is not explained precisely where the success lay. A number of resolutions were passed, aud these have been published. The most interesting features of a caucus, however, are seldom displayea for the enlightenment or diversion of the public. Tile political situation is full' of interest, and it may be assumed that the individual members of the Reform Party had some comments to make which the. electors would have appreciated. The statement given to the newspapers does not advance the position in any material respect. It indicates that the Government intends to stick to office if it possibly can, and that the Reformers are hopeful that they will be assisted by some of their opponents to remain in power. The resolutions are excessively platitudinous. The first is a gem of its kind, in its expression of polite regret that the Reform Party was defeated and its announcement of the Reformers’ determination to do their duty, i.e., rule the country which does not want to be ruled by them. It is postulated that the most important question at issue is whether Revolutionary Socialism should be tolerated in New Zealand, and the pious hope is expressed that such an evil should be “ resisted by every constitutional means in the power of rightthinking citizens.” We would give our hearty support to these admirable sentiments if we did not suspect that the Reform Party believes itself to have a monopoly of right-thinking citizens. They have made it perfectly clear that Liberals who decline to subscribe to the first article of the Reform faith—that Reform is the only true political gospel, and that Mr Massey is its prophet—are Bolsheviks or Red Feds at heart. Gradually working up to the real aim of tlie manifesto, it is propounded that the line of political 1 demarcation in this country should be between “those citizens who on the one hand believe in progressive, enlightened and constitutional democracy, and on the other those who favour a policy of Communism or extreme Socialism.” This is a most arbitrary and dangerous division, and it has the further defect of being absolutely inaccurate. If all the electors of the Dominion who believe in Communism t>r extreme Socialism were collected it would be found that they formed an utterly insignificant proportion of the population. The Reformers tried during the election campaign to raise the country against the Red menace, but they were quite unable to convince the public that their motives were disinterested. The electors declined to believe that Mr Massey and his followers were the only bulwark between them and a wild gang of spoilers. It is interesting to note that the caucus was of opinion that the Reform Party had everything to gain by a further appeal to the country. The sincerity of this declaration is not above suspicion, because it is followed immediately by the hope' that another general election may be avoided. Then follows an intangible offer to the Liberal Opposition, in which it is stated that the Reformers “ will welcome any equitable arrangement by which those members of Parliament who are opposed to Communism may be brought together with the object of expediting the country’s business and keeping in check any section which favours principles subversive to the best interests of the Dominion.” Here again the sentiment is unimpeachable until we reflect that it is the plea of a defeated Government to be kept in power, in defiance* of the will of the people. It is reported by our own correspondent that the Reformers do not desire a coalition, which would mean the retirement of some of their Ministers. They simply want aid to keep them in office. Mr Massey may weather the short session, with the help of a few opponents who are pledged not to vote with Labour on a no-oonfidonce motion. He must recognise, however, that as far as a useful legislative programme is concerned his ! position is well-riigh hopeless. He ; might carry on, but' it would be under j humiliating conditions such as are ! impossible to a political leader who J posseeses any sense of dignity. The i caucus has simply served to emphasise • the fact that the Reformers are in a j minority in the House, and that they l ave not yet devised any scheme which U going to keep them in power for three years.