The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1923. A CONTRAST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18823, 13 July 1923, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1923. A CONTRAST

We have before us the considered opinions of two representatives of the Liberal-Labour Party concerning the statesman who is now and has been for eleven years the Prime Minister of this Doimnion. Mr W. A. Veitch, the member for Wanganui, voiced his opinion in the course of the Budget debate on Wednesday evening. He Is reported to have said:—‘‘The Prime Minister might be regarded as in the nature of an extinct political volcano. He has come to the end of his usefulness in political life, and is drifting as well as he possibly can. . .

Actually his ability is not in line with the average citizen of New Zealand.” Just how many times Mr Veitch has said this sort of thing about Mr Massey it would be reckless to estimate. It is reported that on this occasion Mr Massey did what he usually does when Mr Veitch presumes to chide: he laughed. Perhaps he was amusea by the strengeness of the phenomenon described by Mr Veitch. A ‘‘drifting” volcano, active or extinct, is a spectacle which he could hardly be expected to contemplate seriously. Mr Veitch hurled his cheap sneers a» the Prime Minister on Wednesday evening. On the same day the New Zealand Tinies, whose allegiance to the Liberal-Labour Party goes back to a period long before the member for Wanganui was thought of politically, had this to say of Mr Massey:— Two years ago we joined heartily with the whole Dominion in the congratulations all shades of political opinion, without consideration of party, gave him on the opening of his tenth year of office. The same congratulations are his due to-day on the opening of his twelfth year. On the former occasion Mr Massey’s war service was, of course, the outstanding feature of his career as Prime Minister. It remains still memorable as the service of a Prime Minister who headed a free, self-reliant people through a tremendous conflict of unprecedented danger, with a courage that never faltered and a sagacity which was never at fault. His postwar service was as memorable, for he did it at the heart of Empire, facing new duties with credit, and doing work which reflected honour on the country he represented, and was useful to the colleagues, British and oversea associated with him, as is attested in many official records, the most recent being the pressing requests oi two Prime Ministers of Britain for his presence at the coming Imperial Con-1 ference, which promises to be the most I important of the whole series so far I held. We tender Mr Massey a warm | reminder, and trust that the congratulatory reference of Parliament will I take the form of facilitating his I timely acceptance of the invitation sol honourably extended to him. . . His policy to-day can be credited with some of the spirit of Liberalism, and j such measures as the offer of help for' housiug to the extent of 95 per cent.! of value, give strong support to such conclusion. Mr Massey, moreover, in the last two trying years, has never despaired of the Republic, maintaining a cheerful belief in the resources of I the grand country of which we are all proud, facing manfully the arduous work of reconstruction, much of it thankless, and finding money to the best of his abiliy for the help of cases requiring assistance. When wo add that he has continued to distinguish his Prime Ministership with statesmanlike care and studious sense of his great responsibilities, not excluding those in the Imperial line of his duty, we feel we have completed the congratulation due on the opening of his twelfth year of office. . . The present position being maintained, the Government of Mr Massey offers a policy which, taking it broadly and

without cavil, offers very little that thoughtful Liberals cau objeet to. So taking it, they can regard the position as more a struggle for office and power than a fight over great principles. This we say in view of the fact that whatever few details of policy may present points of difference there may be, they present no question of principle. When the time comes for the consideration of deeper issues, with political forces adequate for the securing of results, the continuance of the Reform Government in office will be what such a question ought to be in a normal Parliament. . . That being so, and matters of weightiest Imperial concern requiring closer attention, the Reform Government, with its broader outlook, and its sound acceptance of the past, that was of good report, may well be allowed to continue in office with the approbation of all New Zealand to do good work. There are many old and staunch supporters of the old Liberal-Labour Party in Wanganui, and we venture to believe that with few exceptions they will endorse the gracious and sportsmanlike tribute of the New Zealand Times and deplore the petty partisan spirit displayed by the member for Wanganui.