A N.Z. PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1921, Page 4

A N.Z. PROBLEM

DANGERS OF APA’LTIY. t IS OUR PUBLIC LIFE < DEGENERATING ? t AVe have before us an interesting letter from a correspondent who writes to justify himself in criticising our public men, the public service of the Dominion and some misdeeds of the Government The writer is evidently an old colonial who deplores the too great laxity of our people in respect to their interest in public affairs He need not have been in the least apolo getic in regard to handling these questions. In a democratic country such ns New Zealand it is most desirable that tho average citizen should speak his or her mind freely. Tim gravest danger is that our democracy goes to sleep and leaves entire control to those in office. Recently one of the greatest, most experienced and wisest of the critics of modern democracy, Lord Bryce, has told us in very plain terms his estimate of our public men. Tn Iming told that our Parliamentarians and public men generally are mediocre in intellect, lacking breadth of vision and the higher standards of taste we are not hong flattered ns a people. Our correspondent gets to the root of the matter when lie urges that the ordinary people are to blame. AA r e agree that to-day there is less general interest shown in public matters by tho average citizen than was shown twenty to thirty years ago. The enrlv colonial was keener in enquiry and more nlovo to voicing his views, whether of assent or protest, in public meetings than we find the people now. It may be due to i more of the Home country Britisher , being here, who has been used to growling privately and leaving to the. au. ! thorities, or owing to the Dominion’s' expansion we have been drawn into so - many petty concerns and interests a to have our minds diverted from the , matters of public policy. City plca- - sures. with town and village imit- ■ tions of same, have largely taken lmh' ’ of our people to the exclusion of more i serious interests. To secure the attendI ance of the public for the considera-

tion of public questions the concert programme is hiring found a necessary attachment to the meetings called.

APATHY AND INDOLENCE. AYhatever the cause, the spectacle faces us of general public apathy. Tt is „ serious menace when the democracy thus shows its indifference to its own affairs of business. Tn vain we may talk of ''Government of the people by the people” if the people simply decline to act. Leaving it to the Office holder and the Office seeker is tho great temptation to autocratic rule, intrigue and in general misgovernment. Our correspondent, tempted men to take up parliament for the pay and honour, with little of other consideration. He snvs “the old style of member was generally a man of a force of ehnreater and ability above the generality of his fellow citizens; and who on the whole had the' public welfare so much at heart that he was prepared to spend his time, his money and his talents in the service of the country/ The present M.P.. he states is. with few exceptions, one who is content to hold his seat, attend to a few local routine and social affairs and leave the important matters wholly to the Government. Tf this is so, or if there exists a scarcity of men of large capacity in the political and general public life of our country, we think that the people are themselves to blame. A people who are apathetic and indolent, or wholly engrossed in money making or pleasure cannot expect, to have representatives of trreat ability and high ideals. The representative will be like those they represent. There has been of recent years fill' 100 much of semi-fatalistic relying on chance and calling upon the higher powers to do everything for us, forgetful of the fact that it is the people who create higher powers in a democracy and on them rests the responsibility for good government of bad. Our correspondent writes “neglect of precaution being a deadly of utterly destroying our apply industry.” Who of the public cares? A T et the state, of every industry in the Dominion concerns us all. THE CALL TO ACTION. Having fought our way through the great war we have, as a people, tn face the stern necessities of the fight for peace. Not a pence of apathy: of mere indolence: of each for ourselves and let the country take its chance. There is an insistent call jo all of ns that we take a real live in tcrest in public affairs. Tlie public services require examination because the national expenditure has increased until it has become a matter of serious concern. All departments of the Stale should he examined as to' their cost and the results secured. This should he done not in a spirit of panic and certainly not in a mood of indifference to the just claims of the public servants for years. The call on the aieinge citizen to think about public affairs, to organise and to discuss matters with their" fellow citizens was never more required that it, is to-day. The habit of considering matters only on a clif or sectional basis should he laid aside for the higher course of public discussion as citizens. Tn the earlier days of this colony when public questions nmsn the people came together readily to discuss them (without the birihe of a concert or dance to attract). Then D public moved up and down the country and spoke on the leading questions of the time. Freedom of speech was everywhere respected and education advance accordingly. The call is for such" activity now amongst the people of all communities. Tt is only bv throing aside our apathy and roeognisiim that if wo are to have good government ■ the people themselves must act. th

we can make the Dominion what it should be. It is a work for all and the call is to each one of us. (Contributed by the N. Z. AV elf are League.)