THE POLITICAL ARENA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 11

THE POLITICAL ARENA.

LEADERS OF THE PARTIES. PRIME MINISTER'S PROGRESS. HON J. G. COATES ON TOUR. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. News from Rotorua to-day is to the effect that the marked improvement in the health of Sir Joseph Ward, which set in a fortnight or two ago, has continued, and that it is expected the patient will return to Wellington in the near future. Not that his attendance at the seat of Government just now is at all essential. The Prime Minister and his colleagues have been in office for fifteen months—about the average length of the first dozen of the Dominion’s Parliaments—and Sir Joseph’s colleagues all have shown themselves to be active and capable administrators. The quidnuncs have given up predicting an early dissolution of Parliament and an appeal to the constituencies that will put an end to the aspirations of both the United Party and the Labour Party; but the Reformers still are talking of a resuscitated party that will “sweep the country” and consign both United and Labour to oblivion. The developments of the immediate future, however, must depend largely upon the health of the United Leader.

On Tour. The Leader of the Reform Opposition is being cordially greeted by the rank and file of his party during his pre-scssionai tour through the North Island. In processions of this kind he presents a better figure than does either the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Labour Party. 1-Ie has on his side comparative youth, a rare gift of adaptability, an intimate acquaintance with the country-side, a nice sense of humour, and, with the rest of his virtues, a ready smile and a cheery word for everyone. Were he as much of a politician as he is of a man he would be irresistible on the hustings. But he is not. His manhood is obviously genuine; his politics plainly are more or less artificial. Coming into the House of 'Representatives nineteen years ago, rather as a follower of Sir Joseph Ward than as an exponent of the Liberal principles of his leader, he has not even yet determined where his convictions stand, save in respect to those essential to the making of the man. , Land Settlement. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, and in- : cidentally Acting-Prime Minister, frankly admits that lie wearies of ceremonials and functions, and yearns to be relieved of these necessary services at the earliest convenient moment. Being a farmer, he naturally takes a keen interest in farming, and at the moment has set his heart upon making a success of the Government’s

settlement proposals. He had been twitted with not acquiring larger

areas and making provision for more settlers, he said to-day, but the country already had seen how both purchases and settlement might be overdone- The Government was anxious to facilitate sound settlement in every way possible—as, no doubt, other Governments had been—and towards that end it was using every means within its power. Sound settlement, however, meant settlement based on the best possible conditions —good for the settler and good for the State—and this could not be achieved by planting men on the land and leaving them there to shift for themselves without further guidance. Labour’s Dilemma. The Labour Party is not finding the role of “Third Party” quite so congenial as it promised to be when the general election gave neither of the other parties a majority and left Mr Holland and his colleagues with what they were pleased to regard as the “balance of power.” They certainly had the satisfaction of assisting the United Party in voting the Reform Party out of office; but this achievement, it would seem, ended, as it had begun, their privilege as Government makers. They might, have voted the Reform Party in again had they marshalled their forces against the United Party, but this probably would have led to a dissolution, and they were not ready for another election forthwith. During the recess they have been talking of driving Reform and United into one camp, and so secure for Labour the status of His Majesty’s Opposition; but even were this possible, and finally accomplished, it would leave them with a very barren outlook. Labour would be much better employed in revising its own policy.