The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1919. SIR J. WARD AND LABOUR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17732, 4 December 1919, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1919. SIR J. WARD AND LABOUR.

In common with Wardist apologists elsewhere, the local journal which is just now running Mr. Veitch in lieu of a "Liberal" candidate, angrily resents any discussion of the relations between the Opposition and the Official Labour Party. In re*>iy to the plain evidence which we have adduced —evidence of historical facts and statements from which there is no escape—the "Herald" gives us a bald and unsubstantiated denial couched in undignified language. The "New Zealand Herald," which our local contemporary recently quoted .with unqualified approval, is meeting with the same kind of "argument" from Sir Joseph's Auckland apologists. Since our "Liberal" friends have been good enough to credit the "N.Z. Herald" (like ourselves, a staunch supporter of the Reform Party) with the estimable virtues of

truthfulness and impartiality, they may possibly be inclined to accept as reliable that journal's pronouncement concerning the dangerous probability of a Ward-Holland alliance. The "Liberal" apologists aver that it is improper to suggest such a probability because Sir Joseph Ward \ has declared that he would not consent "to hold office if his tenure depended, ou their (the extremists) support." And the "N^Z. Herald," I for whose veracity and fairness the ' "Wanganui Herald" has vouched, declares emphatically that Sir Joseph Ward has done nothing of the kind. It says: "To suggest that he has is to put Mr. Massey's words into his mouth. The Prime Minister has deI fined many times, but perhaps most succinctly at Cromwell last week when he said: — '

'If the party working with me do not gain a majority at the election we are not 'going to take tjjp assistance of the Parliamentary Labour Party to keep us in office.' From Sir Joseph Ward there has been no such clear statement unless reliance is to be placed upon secondhand reports, the strongest of which is Mr. Isitt's: 'I heard him with my own eai's say he would not'Tiold office at the mercy of extreme Labour.' So far as newspaper reports go Sir Joseph Ward's most specific reference to the subject was in his Christchurch speech and it was in this

form: —

'If you ask me if I am going to | vote with revolutionary Labour to' I break this country, I am not. I ! am looking forward to seeing lnod- , crate Labour represented in the I Government of this country, but I I am not looking forward to any sections of the community getting the reins of government for the purpose of smashing the country. There need be i\o mistake on that head. As a matter of fact, I have been responsible for a Liberal being put up against Mr. Holland and Mr. Fraser. They are against me, and I am against them.' If this is the statement to which MrT Isitt refers he will be forced to th»3 conclusion that there are /a great many 'dense' people in New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward has certainly stated that he will not vote with revolutionary Labour 'to break this country.' No one has suggested that he has any desire to break or smash the country. What is feared ia something much more subtle. The danger; ais it appears to moderate voters, is that in the event of neither of the principal parties commanding an absolute majority in Parliament, Sir Joseph Ward may be led gradually along a perilous path at the dictation of the Official Labour Party. It could not be saidi for instance, that he had any intention in 191? of smashing the country, yet in that year he advocated a "heart to heart talk" with men who, by active violence and lawlessness, were doing all they could to bring the country to disaster. It is possible that many such temptations may be placed, in Sir Joseph Ward's way after the election. Will he resist them? It is within his power to put himself right in, the eyes of the electors, but so far he has not done so. Further, it may be noted that since Sir Joseph Ward spoke in Christchurch Mr. Holland has indicated how the Official Labour Party will vote on a no-confidence motion. It will join the Opposition in ousting the Reform Government if possible, but it will not - support Sir Joseph 'unless he then enacted the legislation the Labour Party was fighting for.' Mr. Holland apparently does not interpret Sir Joseph Ward's statement as

excluding the possibility of negotiation and compromise. Neither will the electors, unless the Leader of the Opposition states unequivocally that he will be content to remain out of office rather than hold power with the help of Mr. Holland and his following. It is all the more necessary that the Leader of the Opposition should give such a pledge because he has not in the past been averse to negotiating for Labour support, whether revolutionary or evolutionary in character.^ At last election the alliance between Labour and Sir Joseph Ward was quite definite and regular. The words of Mr. Hiram Hunter, National. President of the Social Democratic Party—the political organisation of the Federation of Labour—were: 'In order to put the Reform Government"out of office we had had some dealings with Sir Joseph Ward, and we have got one of our number to go through the country to prevent as far as possible the splitting of the progressive vote.' This alliance, Mr. Walker, a Dunedin Labour member, has indicated was closely maintained up to the time of the formation of the National Government, and if. has never been formally denounced. Indeed during the last session of Parliament Sir Joseph Ward showed a timidity in his relations with the Labour Party that does not inspire confidence in Ms future attitude. He voted with the Labour members to kill the clause of the Coal Mines Bill which gives the Government power, under carefullyframed safeguards, to introduce outside labour into coal mines in the event, of a strike. He absented himself from the House when a vote was taken on the question of indentured labour for Samoa, though it. was obviously his duty as a member of the New Zealaud peace delegation to support the Government or to suggest an alternative source of labour for Samoa. Sir Joseph Ward's attitude to the Official Labour Party is certainly in need of much more precise definition than he has yet given it. Under the circumstances moderate electors will prefer to stabilise the political situation by giving a work-

ing majority to the party whose attitude is beyond question, and which has already demonstrated its sincerity, and public spirit by endeavouring to unite all moderate opinion against extremists." Which ' means, of course, that so far as Wa2ganui is concerned the "New Zealand Her-

aid's" advice to.the electors is to vote for Mr. Cuttle, who will stand by Mr. Massey, and to strike out the name of Mr. Veitch, who has declared that he will side with Sir Joseph Ward when it comes to a crucial test.