The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1919. UNITY IS STRENGTH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17736, 9 December 1919, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1919. UNITY IS STRENGTH.

When the men and women of NewZealand cast their minds back five years, which, unhappily, but few can do without recalling the pain, sorrow and anxiety which that period [held for them, they will remember (the appeal that was sounded by the Press of the Dominion for the formation of a National Government. That appeal was endorsed by the people, who realised that the vital issues then at stake demanded that the custody of the nation's wellbeing called for the undivided attention and the concentrated energy of a loyal and united Parliament. In the presence of the tremendous dangers with which New Zealand in common with the rest of the Empire was confronted, it was recalled that partisan politics must of necessity be subordinated to national statesmanship. Hence the formation of the National Government and the consequent war-time coalition of the two main parties. The National Government served its purpose, and, while it lasted, its Ministers rendered loyal and faithful service and patriotically co-operated in an honest and earnest endeavour to secure for New Zealand an honourable place in the war records of the Allies. How well the Government succeeded in the great task is frankly conceded by sill fair-minded men and women. The National Government's war work stands* proven by its results. It. v/as inevitable, however, that the limitations of the compact, and the overwhelming magnitude of the warwork problems, should be reflected in a. comparatively empty programme i so far as domestic legislation is concerned. Not unnaturally, this unavoidable neglect of local affairs, if so it may be fairly termed, did not tend to popularise the National Government and the consequent censure, though undeserved, must in fairness be equally shared by the I Liberal and Reform parties. But despite its inability to cope extensively with domestic legislation, the

achievement of the National Government provided a striking lesson for the country. It demonstrated that as in the weighty affairs of war the interests of the country could best be served by combined effort, so, in the almost equally anxious period of reconstruction, the essential need is a strong and stable Government backed by a united Legislature. The Reform Party alone grasped and understood this lesson and proclaimed their -willingness to put it into practical operation. The Reform Party's patriotic and non-partisan overture to the Liberals is on record in the form of a unaßimously-approved resolution. ! The Liberal Party's rejection of that I overture is also on record, and, coupled with Sir Joseph Ward's untimely break-away from the Naj tional Government and the hurried I publication of his flambuoyant and ill-considered manifesto, affords irrefutable evidence of his and his party's responsibility for the regretj table partisan turmoil into which the I country has been so unnecessarily ! and so unjustifiably plunged. From j the possibly disastrous consequences lof the Wardite selfishly-inspired disregard of, the nation's vital necessij ties there remains but one sure I means of escape—the return to power of the party which has "played i the game" in the true spirit of patriotism and statesmanship.