MIDDLE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 4

MIDDLE POLICY

MR. R. M. ALGIE'S PLEA

ORGANISATION PLAN

WEIGHT OF MODERATES

(Special to tne "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Urging the paramount need of an active campaign for the restoration of individual liberty in New Zealand, Mr. R. M. Algie, director of the New Zealand Freedom Association, addressed an attentive audience of about 2000 in the Town Hall last night. He propounded a plan for educating the great middle group of the population in the principles of sound democratic government and organising it as a political force to bring about the abandonment of bureaucratic State Socialism, and to substitute an enlightened "middle of the road" policy, if possible without resorting to the formation of a third political party.

I At the close of Mr. Algie's address [ members of the audience received copies of a petition praying Parliament to set up a Royal Commission to investigate the present system of government by delegated legislation and tribunals outside the jurisdiction of the Law Courts, and to make recommeiidations for the removal of alleged abuses thereunder. It was stated that signatures would be sought throughout the Dominion. RETURN TO BETTER PRINCIPLES. A struggle of great consequence was in progress today between the people on the one hand and the executive and Government departments on the other, said Mr. Algie. The honours were *alling rapidly into the lap ol the bureaucracy, simply because the various sections of the people were prepared -to surrender one liberty after another in return for an immediate material advantage. j

If there was to be a return to the better principles of sound and orthodox government if true and effective co-operation in industry was to replace the narrow doctrines oi classconscious warfare, the demand for these things must come, and come with determination, from the rank and file of the people themselves.

There was ample evidence on all sides that an ever-growing number of people had become a little conscious of the fact that they had wandered too far along the shadowy paths of the economic planners. They were anxious to get back'to firmer ground and into a freer atmosphere. It was in such circumstances that the Freedom Association could be of material assistance. . THIRD PARTY UNNECESSARY. Mr. Algie explained the educative purpose of the association and its condition of political independence since its temporary alliance with the National Party against State Socialism in the last General Election campaign.

The association, he continued, was not a political party, and1 held firmly that, in existing circumstances, a new or third party was unnecessary and undesirable. Its primary work lay with that great middle group of the people whose fmembert belonged to neither thet extreme Left:%r the extreme Right. -H -.'■""']'-''. ": ' This group/varied in numbers from time (o time. Its members took a more or less s casual interest in politics and did not attach themselves . to either party. They were broad, liberal, and progressive in dutlook and recognised1 a responsibility towards those not so happily placed as themselves. Nevertheless they were opposed to the cramping restrictions of State Socialism. Unfortunately they lacked leadership, organisation, and instruction in the fundamental principles of government. . OPPORTUNITY FOR LABOUR. If these deficiencies could be remedied, the numbers and voice of the group would be a powerful factor in the democratic government of New Zealand and a splendid inducement to the Labour Government to return to what could be called "the middle of the road." The present Ministry was fully entitled to that opportunity. If it could not, or would not, adopt such a course, the call, would go forth to the National Party. If the latter failed to produce a policy according with the aspirations of the middle group, then nothing would stop the emergence of a third party. "Mr. Savage is half-way into the middle of the road already," added Mr. Algie. "He only needs that call from you and me to stiffen his decision, and he will be in the middle of the road before we can stop him." (Applause and laughter.) ' LEGISLATIVE ABUSES. Mr. Algie devoted the remainder of' his address to a discussion of the intended petition and of the abuses which, he contended, had resulted from the undue development of delegated legislation, the growth of Ministerial and bureaucratic power, and the i barring-out of the Law Courts as tribunals to decide disputes between the citizen and his Government. He referred in particular to- last week's legislation giving the Minister of Labour discretionary power to cancel the registration of unions in certain circumstances and to abrogate their awards.

This, he said, could be done by the Minister in his room. There was no provision for a hearing in open Court before a trained and impartial Judge: the Minister was accuser and Judge in one. He wondered how supporters of the Labour Party liked the, prospect of having this legislation administered by a hardened Tory Minister in some future Government.