ELECTORS ASSOCIATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 18, 26 October 1943, Page 4

ELECTORS ASSOCIATION

Sir,—Now that the election is over, people can start to think constructively about making use of their representatives in Parliament, instead of changing them. The greatest weakness of Democracy has been the idea that having elected Members of Parliament the electors' responsibility is over until the time, comes to vote again. Elections would be much less frantic,, and Parliament-; ary Government far more satisfactory, if the people maintain close • contact with their M.P. all the time, and insist that the needs and washes of his own constituents take priority over all other considerations. That is vitally important during the period of great changes that lies ahead ; the voice of the people mustbe heard above the. voices of sectional interests. Every Member of Parliament would be more Independent if he were assured of tiic organised support of his. constituents in taking, a certain stand—or their organised opposition if he did. not do so. Party labels and machines would lose their sling if M.lVs knew that their elec-. tors were actively concerned with. results, not labels. Some, have representatives in Parliament for whom wc voted; others were not so pleased with the results of the poll. In either case, whether we voted for him or not, the sitting member is

":ie.s„ both clavicles being fractured, two leg bones and a double fracture to the arm. Two ribs •were crushed and there were wounds and abrasions to the left side of the Jicad. From an X-ray it was obvious that these had been sustained flO to 14 days earlier. The child showed some response when first admitted but on the 22nd of August at collapsed and died, death being due. in his opinion to pneumonia following its extensive injuries. Constable O. Rice'gave formal evidence of the apprehension of the 4wo accused. In sentencing the prisoners to two months imprisonment the bench observed that it was a glaring case of the extreme living conditions under which a certain class of Maori appeared to be able to exist. There had' been clear prbof of neglect and indifference to the health and welfare of the child.