POLITICS TO-DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1929, Page 10

POLITICS TO-DAY

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The game of politics must be very interesting for those who have the leisure and the money to afford participating in the goal of trying to keep the other fellow out. First we have the Labour Party making a definite promise to the Civil Service that they will restore the lost salary cuts if only they can get into power. Then Mr. Coates, to out-Herod Herod, dazzles a magnificent £15 rise before their eyes—not the £100 which the politicians swallowed in one bite. Finally, Sir Joseph Ward brings up in the rear with hands of horror uplifted at the very thought that his political enemies should adopt such undesirable tactics of making rash promises of a type that will even excel those found in the United Party's election campaign of 1925.

The railway servants, who probably predominate among the' Civil servants of the Hutt electorate, have recently received a political bone in the shape of shortened hours, etc. So, before the election day arrives, probably a few more hardy chestnuts will be promised by one side or other, such as the Petone overhead railway bridge, a subsidy for the Wainui-o-mata tunnel, as the unemployed question will be to the forefront after the New Year if the present rate of dismissing casual labour by the various Government Departments continues. Then, as a grand finale, on election day someone will offer up the suggestion to the United Party of forming a Coalition Government.

The average elector will soon be weighing up the merits and demerits o£ the various parties. He has tried the Reformers and discarded them, and, having sampled the United Party, he is finding that they have not come up to expectations; so one supposes there is no harm in trying Labour, for they cannot be'worse than either of the other two. Since this political game is to get into office, enjoy the emoluments of office, and to stay in office as long as possible, what could be simpler?—l am, etc.,

FEATHER DUSTER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Many people must have noticed with considerable amazement the attempt being made by the Labour Party to mislead the Civil Service in connection with the restoration of the position created by the "cuts" of 1922. The motion brought forward by the Labour Party is instructive to all as an outstanding example of political tactics, and is worthy of the close attention of every Civil servant.

Imbued with a deep feeling of sympathy for the unfortunate Civil servant, the smallest party in the House proposed a course of action which, not being acceptable to the Government, required the support of Reform to be carried into effect. Knowing that under ordinary circumstances the weight of Reform would be thrown behind the proposal, a clause was inserted which effectually prevented that happening. A few words referring to "the unjust levy of 1922" left Reform with: no alternative, and accordingly their support was lost. That this state of affairs was desired by Labour there can be no doubt, and the deduction from the situation can be no other but that this was one of those gestures which in general seem to have a peculiar fascination for Labour parties.

Having made their gesture in favour of the Civil servants, this same party complacently accepted a "bonus" of £100, and even went so far as to state that it would be accepted by them without a quiver of the hand. How they can reconcile their actions is a matter of some interest. That they deem it necessary to explain their attitude is sufficient proof that the matter causes them concern.

Nobody will deny that in certain grades of the Civil Service there should be an adjustment of salaries -n-ithout delay. Nor can it be" denied that these adjustments were promised in different ways by the three political parties at the 1928 election. The United Party is so keen to deal with the situation that it treats a motion recommending immediate action as one of no-confidence. The Labour Party, similarly concerned, moves a motion which it did not want carried, and which it hoped would not be carried. Was this another example of pre-arranged action between United and Labour, of which more than one whisper has been heard durin" the past few months?

There is at least one fact which emerges with clarity from this political muddle The Labour Party, for many years the self-styled champions of the oppressed and claiming to be the only party with ideals, as a result of its own actions has fallen from the lofty pedestal upon which it placed itself: The people of New Zealand, and the Civil servants in particular, may at last compare the extent of promise and action, and see'for themselves how the mighty fall, and how ideals crumble, before the necessities of political expediency This latest action of their alleged champions should at least convince the Civil servants that the claim of the Labour Party for their support is based on grounds as fallacious as the reasons given for that party's hurried agreement to the imposition of extra primage duty on the necessities of life.—l am, etc.,

PUBLIC SERVANT.