The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. POLITICAL SITUATION.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 120, 18 June 1912, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. POLITICAL SITUATION.

ALL is uncertainty in political circles, and it would be impossible for anyone to prophesy with any degree of certainty the happenings of the next few weeks. The calling together of Parliament again opens the field for a fierce party struggle, and already members on all sides- of the House are busy organising their forces. The recent Opposition caucus at Wellington, we are told, was a distinctly successful affair,—at least that was the impression conveyed by the smile with which Mr Massey met inquisitive inquirers. However, it is understood that the exchange of confidences was not attended with such happy results as could

have been wished. True, the 38 manifested every indication of solidity and 01 loyalty to their leader, but the help that was generally anticipated from the disaffected section of the Liberal party was stated to be disappointingly uncertain. Messrs Miller and R. McKenzie, it is believed in well informed circles, v ill not vote on a no-confidence motion, but once the McKenzie Cabinet is out they will exercise their votes to turn out Mr Massey, and thus secure a dissolution. Very few members want an appeal to the country. The risk of seals being lost, apart from the matter of expense, so soon after being won makes an election generally unpopular, and with this probability in the air it is questionable whether Mr Massey's supporters will allow him to avail himself of the negative kind of assistance offered by Mr Millar and his friends. Under the circumstances suggested the forcing of the position rests entirely with Mr Massey. If Mr Massey once found himself in power the general desire not to go to the country might act to give a temporary reign. Another element to bring this about would bo the resentment felt by Government supporters at Mr Millar's " pledgebreaking," and their objection to playing into his hands by carrying an adverse vote against Mr Massey and going to the country. The position is gloriously uncertain, and the next three months might see one of four or five things —a McKenzie Government, a Massey Government, a coalition or an election. There is one indisputable solution of the whole problem —the elective excutive. Time awaits the man, but he does not seem to be in the House. The principal would obliterate parties by scienticc instead of bludgeon methods, and the ablest men in the House would be selected for the country's administration. True, it is measures more than men that are required, but if a Cabinet elected by the members as a whole pursued a policy of evading such momentuos problems as land settlement and regulation of Customs tariff they would have to make way for someone who would deal with these questions. That is the virtue of the system. The recent past, with parties so evenly matched, has proved that the " fight for power " is the main consideration. The question of government has been entirely secondary, and now we find several Royal Commissions endeavouring to delve into difficult problems which Parliament should have been capable of adjusting for itself. The good of the country should be the main consideration of Parliament. After listening to a somewhat desultory debate at the recent session when the fight for power was so severe. The member for Waikato (J. A. Young, Esq.), a keen advocate for the Elective Executive, tersely explained the position to Parliament assembled in the following words: —" It is a great indictment of the party system, and here we find men fighting, not to render service to the country, but merely to hang on to office and keep in power. Men on all sides of the House should be given credit for good intentions to serve the countryAs men we should agree to differ although we cannot see eye to eye in regard to what should be done." Mr Young is quite justified in pursuing this matter. In a keen party struggle men throw their principles to the winds in an endeavour to save the party. This will be the outstanding feature of Parliament so long as parties are so equally divided, and therefore we hope to see a strong endeavour made, not to gain power for the party, but to effect the necessary reform to do away with unsatisfactory and tiresome party conflicts.