The Wanganui Chronicle. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1928. A LABOUR-UNITED GOVERNMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 290, 7 December 1928, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1928. A LABOUR-UNITED GOVERNMENT

yi4l-: THUNDERBOLTS that Sir Joseph Ward was to have hurled at the Government, became tiny taps on a toy drum. Never was any Government arraigned on a flimsier indictment than that recited by the leader of the United Party. Sir Joseph’s speech last night was more a wail concerning his alleged misrepresentation by the Prime Minister during the general elections than an attack on the Government —a vague and querulous complaining, without one definite charge against the administration in which he had moved a vote of no-con-fidence.

Twitting his political opponents on their defeat in a manner quite foreign to the knightly chivalry that might be expected of one in his place, and jeering at Members who had lost their seats, by asking where now were some of his critics in the House, Sir Joseph began his “attack.” Boiled down, this rgsolved itself into a general accusation that the Government ■was a profligate borrower. The “Wizard of Finance” could, of course, see no profligacy in his own proposal to borrow £70,000.000. So infatuated was he with the idea, in fact, that for a while he dropped his denunciation of the Government and entertained the House with a picture of what he designed to do as Prime Minister. Sixty millions sterling for advances to the people; to buy farms and houses; ten millions for railway construction; the abolition of company fax; reduction of income tax; reduction of Customs duties—a taxpayers’ Paradise. Nobody is to pay for anything!

There was grim humour in the attitude of Mr Holland, now become Lord High Executioner. Reform had to go; Mr Holland would vote with the United Party and so behead the Government. Sir Joseph Ward was entitled to a chance to govern, and would be supported by Labour—as long as its policy was in line with that of Labour! In other words, if the United Party carried out the Labour Party’s platform, it would be permitted lo live. If not, Mr Holland would use the axe again. Sir Joseph will form his Government, but none will envy the worn old warrior its leadership. The opposition of the Reform Party will be hard enough; it will be a comfort and a delight compared to the embarrassment of the political friendship proffered by the Labour Party.