Evening star., 1922-11-22

indicate a resolve to ignore. II not to
defy. what Is obvious and ought to be
a governing factor in the policy of
the government.
The corolIary to this curious work
ing Of our electoral system is to be
found in the under-representatio or
other parties In the present parlia-
ment, and unless. representative gov
ernment Is to be discredited alto
gether the present parliament ought
at once to devote it's mind and direct
it's energies to the discovery of some
avert the danger which undoubtedly
arises from the working of the pres
ent system. The parliament OF 1918
undoubtedly gave larger majority
to the government than the figures
warranted. but the majority of the
, votes cast for government candi-
dates was so Overwhelming that un-
der any system Of counting there
would have been a larger working
majority for the government than
that which the present government
can command. So. when trouble arose
it was not open to any section OF the
community to object that the gov
ernment had no authority because II
did not represent the electorate OF
this country.
We are faced with new danger to
constitutional government. What has
happened at this election may be re-
peated at the next. but not neces-
sarily in favor of the same party. If
we are to be governed by succession
of administrations who rule in spite
of the protest of majority of the
people the authority of the govern
ment will be weakened beyond re-
pair.
The luck of the electoral table has
this time favored the conservatives.
Next time 1t may turn in favor of the
labor party. They have secured many
seats this time by minority of votes
This time the votes cast for them have
attained the gigantic aggregate OF
four millions and quarter. Condi-
tions were in many respects against
them. Their funds were exhausted by
a prolonged period of heavy unem-
ployment. The trade union move
ment was passing through the ebb-
and in discomfort with the trade
union leaders. Many workmen felt
they had been let down badly by
some Of their activities in industrial
disputes.
Labor Hopes of Future.
Moreover, labor has been committed
by visionaries to a rash experiment
which Handicapped it severely in the
election.
The next time may be the spring
tide Of labor. They have learned
their lesson at the polls and are not
likely to repeat the blunder of No
vember. 1922. Supposing under those
conditions they add another two mil
lions to their poll. Although groups
may secure between them nine mil
lions of votes. labor may have the
same luck as the conservatives at the
last election and be placed in power
by a decisive majority of members
elected by minority Of votes.
I am not going to speculate as to
what may happen under those condi-
tions-the kind Of legislation that
may be proposed, the action of the
house Of lords in reference to it. pro-
voking as it undoubtedly will. a fierce
clash and conflict, the turn given to
administration in various departments
of government.
OF one thing l am. however. certain:
that is, that as minority adminiStra-
ton in 1922 and onward will help to
discredit the government with certain
classes of the community, minority
labor administration would weaken
respect of other classes for repre-
sentative government, and between
them an atmosphere will be created
inimical to the moral authority Of all
government in this country
l have many time warned the pub
lie that in spite of appearances this
country is in many respects very top
heavy. 1t is overindustrialized. Its
means of livelihood are in many re-
spects precarious and depend on con-
ditions over which We have very little
control, and once something happens
which may have the effect Of causing
a lean-over, either in one direction
or in the other. it will be more diff
cult to recover than in lands where
the population depends in the main
for it's livelihood upon cultivation of
the soil and the development of the
natural resources of the country.
I therefore earnestly trust that in
the interest of stability and good gov
ernment, which must be based on the