THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

Chronicle (Levin), 18 December 1946, Page 5

THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

-Press Association

POLITICS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT

By Telegraph-

WANGANIT, Dec. 17. "Politics have been ealled a ganie but that cynical thought carries within it the gernis oi* a great national disa.ster, " cleclareil Mr. R. (1. Alontgomene, disti'ict farmer aud author of the curiently selling book "Politics is Llie Panunouut Kiid,'' in an address to tne Wanganui Rotarv ( Tui) todav. Mr. Montgomerie added that instead oi M.'sp. being looked up to by the community as nien of principle and honoui all hinds of clandestine activities were assoeiated with their offiee. "Politics todav is iust what people

have made it. If, politieallv, people have demanded that the aspiring politieian niust put a sugar-coating round ah matters of political delieaey we cannoi blame the politicians. It is on our own shoulders tliat tlio blame rests. " lir. Montgomerie said we were apt to look at national affairs tlirongh the spectaele of the political party to whieh we liaji]>ened to belong, and studi a habit was the genesis of the atmosphere of 1111 reality whieh he had attacked in 1ns book. Our first dutv was to look at all questions of national affairs as gooo Xew Zealanders. "We are ti ot alone he're in Xew Zealand in this growing thTeat to demoeracv of either the sectional or political party view," Mr. Montgomerie added. "It is a worlriwide syniptom that can well mean the ultimate domn of demoeracv. " Introducing the speaker to Rotary members, tlie vice-president (Dr. G. li. Robertsonl said Mr. Montgomerie was not only a successful district farmersbut had also made a cfose study of the economic aspects of farming as the book indicated.