WORTH THINKING OYER.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1921, Page 3

WORTH THINKING OYER.

I OUR lAIPKIUAL RES PON Slj BILITY. THE GREATER DUTY OF. ELECTORS. A short remark made by tbe Prime .Minister, Mr Massey, on the duty of electors appears to us so pertinent at tho present, and its essential principle so free from party relation as to justify some further emphasis and elaboration. AH* Massey said “I don’t want to tone'll on party polities at* tbe moment, but I wish to’say that a new duty has come to electors in the last few years. They must remember when they are casting their votes at the ballot-box that indirectly, perhaps directly, file man (or the woman) elected will have a say, not only in the affairs of his own country, hut, what is far more, in tho affairs of the Empire. Tt is well to remember j that and vote accordingly. I Of course this duty of considering | our Imperial responsibilities rests up- | on all of ns. hotli elected and electors. There exists the danger that many electors may consider it is not their coil- j com but the business of the members ! elected, and the members, on tlie other hand consider it solely tho respnnsi- ' l-ilit v of Ministers and the higher dig- ; Hilaries. It is well that in our Demo- 1 cratie Dominion strong emphasis should , he laid on the fact that even in the high matters that concern the Empire the primary responsibility rests with the average citizen. There are those taking part in tho politics iff our country. hot It electors and elected. who think lightly of the unity of our Great Empire, and talk sometimes with sneers i about the British Constitutional combination. We find such persons representing the Empire as if it was at form of Eastern Autocracy with all power being directed from the Head Ruler and a general state of enslavement oh- i

taming, under whuh all parts of tin’ !"* in 11 ir<‘ aiv only snippet, dependeneies midcT ;m iron despot ie rulr*. This view whieli is held by some ns a faith and 1 suggi'sted hv Him! advocates in veiled language on many oeeasions. is hut. a tUnvesty of 1 lie real character of the British Kmpire. In reality oiir Km pi re . is in a. large measure a world wide I'e. 'deration sif many free states and nations. It, would he* quite as ridiculous to regard the several states of Northern American as in a, position nif bondage because they lire all subject! to the t T n- ! ion that constitutes the- United States : of America as it is to think of the sever- | a I parts of the British Kmpire as being in subjection to some occult power cf centralized authority. Kor such rru.- ' sons it is well that the eleclors should ever remember that on tlfem rests the responsibility of maintaining the Kin-' pire since they unitedly constitute tic Kmpire. I This that Mr Massey calls a new duty is after all. but the old duty of "e----iiiembering that we tire Britishers hear, ing a great heritage of race traditions, ills! it ut lolls, customs and traits of character which arc worthy of preservation. not merely for our own sake 1 "if- for that- of humanity (fur father* del not, for*tel the greater calls that, came to them and Imw shall I heir sons and daughters do so. To-day the citizens must realize that they are living in a greater world, members of a (Ireat Kmpire with tremendous responsibilities and. as electors of a fr<*e Do- ' minion, lie greater men and women. I’laying tin* game of life with high and noble ambition they cannot help but vote accordingly. Citizenship is the foundation of our Kmpire and the rights and duties e f ' electors tire (he keys to unlock the , gates of further freedom for all. This Ircedoni will still retain its British character of moving on const i-, tutioiial lines or orderly progression. 1 The words of our l’riine Minister com- , maud serious attention not, because the realisation of the higher duty of electors is a task to lie fulfilled but rather because it is a privilege to uphold tha Knipire which means so much towards the advancement of mankind. i (Contributed by tin* X.X. Welfare ; I.eagltel.