WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1217, 28 August 1911, Page 6

WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

MR. ATMORK ANI) TUK NELSON SEAT. Sir,—ln mv reading of your, issun of August 22, I noticed von have classed mo amongst your published li>* of candidates as nil "Independent Oppositionist.The agents of the Prow Association in Nolsou apparently do not keep the public informed of the very definite statements made by candidates here as tn the party they are inclined to support, l'rr instance, both by interview (we cutting;) and from the platform at the Theatre Eoval on Tuesday last, I have declared myself to be an "Independent Litornl, that is to say, one pledged to Liberal measures, but. not pledged to support any Administration in their backing and filling. Notwithstanding tliPse very definite statements, I find myself classed as an "Independent Oppositionist." I consider the party system lias gone to snch an extreme length ill New Zealand that the people have become heartily sick of it, and fool inclined to say, "A plague on both your Houses." Edmund Burke, when writing on the "Use and Abuse of Party," used these words:—"ln order to throw an odium on political conncction, these politicians suppose it a necessary incident to it that you aro blindly to follow the opinions of your party when in direct opposition to your own clear ideas; a degree of servitude that uo worthy mail could bear the thought of submitting to; and such as, I believe, no connections ever could be so senseles-sly tyrannical as to '"liurke used these strong but well-found-ed terms of condemnation, and apparently scouted the idea that party politics could ever so degenerate; and yet 110 thinking man in our Dominion at the present timo will doubt that we have reached the lowest depths of party degradation so justly and foreiblv reprobated bv that eminent authority. Wo have witnessed the rapid Americauisation of our politics in the introduction of the "spoils to the victors" policy, and whilst honest Liberals are 111 accord with the greater part of tlio measures introduced by the present Government, they must condemn manv acts of administration which are palpably dishonest and obviously made for party purposes. . The absolutely improper payment to the Chief Justice (who appears to bo the pampered darling of the Government at the present time) may bo classed as ono of the many transactions well calculated to shako tho confidence of true Liberals in the present Administration. Tho question for the electors to consider at tho approaching elections is whether t.lie t.imo lias not arrived when tho death-knoll of the pot-hunting politician should bo sounded by the election of true Liberals, sworn to liberal principles, but not tied hand and foot to any body of men, and who, as a first measure, would pass a Public Works Board Act, under tho provisions of which a board could bo established to consider all applications for public moneys 011 their merits. I consider, Jlr. Editor, that if twenty members iu tho llouso would always speak the truth as they saw it, irrespective of partv ties, a' revolution would bo effected in the conduct of affairs, and great benefit would accrue to the longsuffering ratepayers. One would liko to writo at greater' length, but consideration for space must deter. I am enclosing report of interview, which I hops you will publish, as your paper is largely read in this district, and your classing of myself as an Independent Oppositionist does not convey tho impression I desired to create when giving my views.— I am, etc., HARRY ATi[ORE. Alton Street Nelson. [.Enclosure.] A representative of tho "Evening Mail" waited upon Mr. Harry Atmoro to ascertain his intentions regarding tho forthcoming elections. In reply to questions Mr- Atmoro stated that he would address tho city electors during tho coming week. Questioned as to which party in tho House he would give his support, ho replied that ho would probably be classed as an Independent' Liberal, as although 110 approved of t'lio majority of measures which tho Government had placed upon the Statute Book, he considered the administration left a lot to be desired. A really fine measure was the Workers' Dwellings Act of last session, under which any worker with a deposit of «£lO and an income of less than .€175 could get a house built for himself and repay the principal and interest at tho rate of £.1 per .£IOO per annum, thus obtaining a house for himself at' a small weekly payment. A peculiarity of this Act is that, whilst the Government is professedly leasehold in its leanings, preference is to be given to those desiring tho free'liold.

This, Mr. Atmore contended, was a step in the right direction, as lie is a strong believer in t'lio wisdom of providing facilities for the acqusit'ion of the freehold by the town worker and country settler alike, which he contends is a "necessary corollary with the introduction of compulsory military training. Questioned further, Mr. Atnioro stated 'that lie considered the Government were to blame for paying the Chief Justice .£■looo extra for work done in the lime already bought by tho Dominion for .£2OOO per annum, as it established a pernicious precedent, and to him it savoured too much of the custom complained of in tho Scottish proverb: "It J s ill work greasing tho fat soo." If tho Government had tho money to spare they had plenty of employees who were in more need of it than such a highly paid functionary. Pressed for his opinion of the Opposition, Mr. Atmore said they had some sterling men in their ranks, but he considered the Government could be reformed from within if tho electors returned men who would refuse to be driven and who, if the choice had to be made, would prefer principle to party. He was quite in accord with some of the planks in the Reform party's platform, and claimed that he had advocated these as' far back as 1902 beforo that parly had adopted them. Mr. Atmore stated that his position was much (he same as at previous elections. as lie recalled (hat in the 1003 contest he had stated that whilst lie generally approved of t'lio Government measures, "no one could successfully defend all its Acts of administration.'—"Nelson Mail," August 3.