THE SESSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 49, Issue 14852, 5 February 1923, Page 4

THE SESSION.

The forthcoming session of Parliament will be the most momentous on record during the past ten or'eleven years. There will be a settling down of the members into their proper political niches in the House. It is generally agreed that Mr. Massey will be able to command a majority in the House when the test comes, but some doubt is expressed as to whether his position will be secure for more than one or two sessions. There are so many circumstances possible that the position must be causing Mr. Massey considerable ahxiety. The Reform Party is undoubtedly gaining in strength, as the following striking figures comparing the 1922 and the 1914 elections will show: —

1914. 1922. Reform .. 237,580 279,933 Liberal .. 218.549 179,182 Labour .. 47,884 152,329 It will thus be seen that what is usually called the anti-Labour vote —that of Reform and Liberal —has a majority of over 300,000 over Labour. If the Reform and the Liberal parties continue their separate ways, what will be the result, The answer to that question can easily be found —advantage to the Labour Party. Is there any sense in the Reform and Liberal Parties continuing their separate existences? We are not foolish enough to believe that Labour will not become a very strong political force in this Dominion —the above quoted figures show how Labour has moved forward: It has some very shrewd leaders, and Mr. Holland, now that he has modified the views he formerly held, is a leader that must be reckoned with by the anti-Labour forces. It is only by a united front that the Reformers and the Liberals will be able to successfully meet the situation.