The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1919. THE DANGERS OF PARTY STRIFE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1919. THE DANGERS OF PARTY STRIFE

6— ; . It is one of the worst dangers facing this country that a resumption hi political party strife may lead to invaluable opportunities of progress and development being frittered away. There never was a time when politicians were move evidently called upon to adopt tho outlook of national representatives as distinct from that of mere partisans. It would be rather optimistic, how-' ever, to hold that politicians as a body are capable of rising to the occasion, great as it is. What is to follow on the dissolution of the National Government, should that occur, as it is expected to, in the comparatively near future is largely a matter of conjecture, but it is certain that politicians' are' lagging far behind the march' of public opinion in the matter of obliterating pre-war party lines, in so far as these were arbitrary and artificial, and adopt ; ng more rational methods. The average thoughtful elector certainly regards with disgust the idea of reconstituting parties on the lines that existed before the war, and most people arc anxious to see measures that will make for the advancement and welfare of tho whole ■country dealt with on their merits, with a minimum of party strife. Had politicians kept pace with public opinion in this matter, bettor evidence of the fact than is now visible would have been afforded, long ago. In spite of some hampering circumstances, notably the protracted absence of the party leaders during their attendance at the Peace Conference, there would have been in that case some definite progress in laying down, at least tentatively, lines of after-war co-opera-tion. It is plain enough that no such progress has been'made. In November last the Reform Party caucus' passed a resolution affirming that in view of the insidious spread of_ revolutionary and anarchical doctrines, the more responsible elements in' Parliament should unite "for the purpose of inculcating sound democratic principles and giving effect to a_ policy which will stimulate the sentiments of patriotism and loyalty of Empire for which New Zealand has always been noted." More recently, however, the Liberal Party decided at a caucus meeting to resume its separate existence prior to the next general election. The Labour Party, meantime, has been captured by the members of its revolutionary wing. Something has been heard, also, about the formation of a "cave," of a strength and influence yet to be determined, which aims at the establishment of a_ National Party. Whatever significance it holds for- the future it can hardly be supposed that tl-is development compensates at the present stage for the general absence of an effective impulse towards cooperation in the political arena. As a whole the political situation suggests that politicians fail to realise how widespread the belief is amongst the people of the Dominion that' there is- nothing to prevent members of the two 'main parties and Labour men of moderate views working together in harmony, and that the interests of the country will ba flouted if politicians fail to establish this measure of cp-opcration. With politicians as obviously failing in this dutv as they are at present, it is natural ijhat ways and means of introducing a state'of affairs more in accord with national interest should be eagerly sought. Some interest may be awakenr;! in this connection by a suggestion advanced in our open columns on Saturday by Mr. H. F. von Haast that the system of preferential voting in .single member constituencies should be substituted, nrior to the coming election, for the present method of '-'first past the post." The idca„ underlying the suggestion is that under a system which enables an elector not merely to vote outright for a single candidate, but to express an alternative preference for others should that candidate not be elected, there would be less likelihood of the election of minority- ■ supported candidates as a result of 1 ■ vote-sphttiner by candidates of similar views. While all right-thinkihu people will agree with Mil. von Haast that "we have had enough of the party game, and it is' time that the interests of the country as a whole should be considered before those of any particular party," it may be doubted whether the'hasty adoption of a new voting system offers a way of escape from existing difficulties or is likely to avert the danger of artificial and unnatural political 'divisions that looms immediately ahead. "Public opinion," Mb. von Haast observes, "has not yet been adequately converted to proportional representation." The truth is that public opinion is not' yet adequately converted to any | change in the voting system. The i average attitude towards such ques-1 tions is one of indifference. This j" may_ be a temporary state of affairs j destined to be transformed in the i near- future, and should any i goneral demand arise for the ! alteration of the electoral sys- : tern it is perhaps nnlikelv j that this country will stole ; short of the institution of propor- ! tional representation, with group I constituencies. Meantime, how- ! ever, there is little evidence i of any such demand, and it is ' impossible to find either in consider- '■ mgthe immediate political problem S or in a wider outlook any eonvinc- i ing argument for the adoption at short notice of preferential voting. Not improbably the chief result of such a departure, in the circumstances that obtain, would be to intensify the. con fusion of issues and ideas already threatened. Sir.cc a general election is bv common consent imminent, tho technical difficulties of satisfactorily instituting a new voting system in the time available arc probably in. themselves insuperable. If they were overcome, the general success achieved would almost certainly be marred bv more or less serious detail blunders, which would give rise to anomalies and oceasioii dissatisfaction.

To this it must bo added that the general absence of popular demand in itself suggests that electors as a rule arc neither anxious to exercise alternative preferences, nor likely to exorcise them with much effect i'l

the right of doing bo were conferred. The significance of a vote given for a particular candidate is clear-cut and unmistakable. The expression of a second, or further preference, is on much more dubious ground. Such a system is far from affording a complete or satisfactory remedy for the evils of minority representation it is intended to correct, and whatever disabilities attach to it are likely to be intensified at a time when political divisions arc more than ordinarily artificial and unnatural. The dangers threatening this country will not he averted by tinkering hastily with the machinery of represention. The great need of the moment is that politicians and people alike should clear their minds of cant and prejudice and honestly face realities. It has to be admitted, and it is a matter for infinite regret, that politicians are likely, if they fail at the decisive moment, as many of ■ them have failed thus far. to realise that a broader and more enlightened outlook .than formerly sufficed is demanded of them, to plunge the affairs of this country into confusion and create conditions as unfavourable as possible to orderly and sound development. Much political strife here iii recent years has rested on no more tangible foundation than a claim by each of several eontending factions that it was able to do better than its competitors tilings that all agreed ought to bo clone. It is time to break away from such waste of effort. There is nothing in the existing electoral system to prevent such a severance, nor would any sudden and haaty alteration of that system make the severance easier of accomplishment.