The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1925. VICTORY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1682, 5 November 1925, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1925. VICTORY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

THE General Election yesterday has decisively ended a political stalemate which came about as the result of the Election three years ago w'nefn parties were so evenly matched that constitutional government became a matter for diplomatic negotiation. The country has become heartily tired of such a -condition within its Parliament and has put an end to it in no uncertain manner. Party goverment had come under severe criticism as being more a cog in the political machine than a means of enlarging the area of legislation or of extending the powers of the whole democracy. Whatever sincerity may have prompted the fusion negotiations amongst the parties themselves, the country yesterday has shown conclusively that the mood and sentiment of the people had a decided leaning towards a speedy termination of the three-party system. That, at

the outset, is the outstanding feature of the expression which has come from the people. But that, by no means, can be regarded as the so' e prompting which induced the electors to seek a change in the political methods. In Mr Coates the Reform Party possesses a leadeir who has an established reputation for getting idlings d'one! He himself has adopted the slogan “less government in business but more business in the Government” —and that is just what the people are seeking. Less of political favour, tees of Government interference in business; in short, less Of that seeking popularity by those means and devices which come within the simple definition of “politics.” Instead, the country is in urgent need of a stronger Parliament, and a more ■determined administration, and the feeling lias been that Mr Coates and the party of which he has the leadership is die mare likely to make possible the attainment of the country’s desires.

Whether it will be wise policy, however, to ireduce the parties in opposition to such an ineffective minority 'is a question that must inevitably arise. For in our system of Government the opposition contribute a distinct share in the moulding of new legislation. First in the country, and afterwards in Parliament, new measures should be explained, developed, oontoadicted and riddled with criticism before the measure becomes law and is generally accepted. The tendency, of course, may be to harden policy into party creed, but nevertheless a well-balanced opposition can otoly be regarded as a necessary safeguard. Tne country, yesterday, however, reduced the opposition to an ineffetetive minority and has thus increased the responsibilities on the Government which possesses such a large majority. Of one thing we may be certain—and it is a most welcome augury for the future—there will be less of party bickering and a more purposeful Parliament in the future. Instead of a Parliament which seeks football triumphs, the game of politics, there should be a Parliament which sets itself to the 'legitimate purposes for which it is established. There should very certainly be less inclination to interrupt the work of the Government by those attempts to which we have become so accustomed during the last three years to misrepresent the temper and purpose of the Dominion. Efforts at such disturbance 'are less likely to be made when there has been a definite and constitutional ■vxplvssion of national feeling.

One <tt the first duties -of the Government, now that it is virtually reconstituted, Will naturally be to reconstruct the Ministry. This is at once in keeping with public 'desire for it is widely recognised, even by the most earnest supporters of the Reform Party, that at least some portfolios cou'ld be allotted to more capable administrators. The strength of the Government will be found in its administration and that the ablest of its administrators have not been appointed to the Ministry in the past is a matter of icommbn knowledge. But in a House so evenly divided as it has been there has been the need to consider a knowledge of Parliamentary procedure as an even greater qualification than administrative ability. Any such consideration is no longer necessary. The rout of the Liberal Party is by no means confined to New Zealand. It is world-wide. The cause is not hard to -discover for it is found in the simple fact that the political meaning of Conservative and Liberal has changed' vastly during recent years. In aspiration and policy there is scarcely a clearly defined dne o‘ demarcation between them. The growth of the Labour group—bringing in its wake those Socialistic doctrines which the world is not ready to accept—-has of itself changed the old order of things. In our New Zealand politics the advent of still another group through a misguided effort to form a Country Party was by no means welcome and this movement met the fate it deserved. The practical analysis of the political

destinies shows that the future holds only the prospect of two parties or groups—the one as represented by Reform and Liberal and the other as represented by Labour. It may be hoped, 'therefore, that there will be a speedy coalition or fusion of the Reform Government and the fragments of Liberalism.

The decision in Waikato is by no means exceptional for, in ousting a Liberal representative Waikato conformed entirely with the country’s mood. In 1908 Waikato was represented i<n Parliament by a Liberal; in 1911 it changed over, to Reform and had it not been for an unfortunate splitting of the Reform votes in 1922 Liberalism would never yet have found a footing in an electorate where the Reform sentiment is unquestionably paramount. lax its liberal representative Waikato' during the last three years has, nevertheless, been ably championed and on the basis of service Mr Lye has won esteem on every hand—even from political opponents. On that basis he might reasonably have hoped to be returned. In its new representative Waikato has a man whose experience in public life will serve him and his electorate in good stead. The contest has not produced the least bitterness, and it has been conducted throughout in a manner befitting our best traditions. All therefore can join in welcoming Mr Reid as the new member for Waikato and in according him that wholehearted support which will enable him to worthily serve his electorate and the wider interests of the Dominion.