The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3rd, 1924. PRIVATE EFFORT AND PROSPERITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3rd, 1924. PRIVATE EFFORT AND PROSPERITY.

In di.seii.s>iug the political turmoil arising out of the preliminaries alleeting tin* IVcNideut'ial election a New \oik tiuaueial jouinal goes on to remark lha,l most ol the unctions that are referred to in ] tiliti< :■ 1 .speeches and convent ions lelate to industry and business, and there appears to be no reason lor any radial dej art lire upon these matte;s from the public |olie.ies of tin- louutry ns uiaintaiiied lieretolore. While it would he t«m miieh lo say that there is nothing that the government nut do to promote the prosperity and welfare of the country, t.wd general propositions may lie salclv staled : First that the government has much greater power to injure the country through bail legislation alleeting industry and business than to benefit it. through legislation touching those . ill ; : ■ 11. | so* , ill* I that there lire greater op| orlunit.ies lo lu'iiolit the country by repealing laws now on the statute books, thus correcting past mistakes, than by passing new laws. Industry and business have little to .'.lain Iroin legif.lulion. Prosrrlrity e,Hues by the free and voluntary activities of individuals in industry, and the government can do little Is'.voml laeilitating these activities. It has no creative powers except as il draws on tin' individual powers of its citizens, anil the latter are able to organise ami direct their own efforts much more effectively than the government can do it. If anything has been demonstrated by experience it is that, governments are not successful in the management and direction of business affairs. I’olities, however is an inevitable factor in the national life. There most be government and to have it there must be elections and along with elections rival parties, and candidate's, and all the strife, recrimination and competitive promises that characterise our campaigns. It is these conditions that tend to make polities disturbing to business. Business desires stabilif v and natural progress by growth and development. Tt looks lor improvement in social conditions by research, invention, industry, savings, accumulations of wealth which increase the productive powers of the population, realising that every gain along these lines quickly disseminates benefits throughout all groups and classes. Its faith and policies are based upon the proposition laid down bv General Francis A. Walker, one of the most sane and eminent economists the country ever has produced, to-wit : that under the existing competitive system the common man is the. residuary legatee of all the achievements of industry and science. The political programme, however, is inevitably different. It is based not so limt*li upon growth nr development, as upon change. The programme of the business world would afford scant opportunity for political and governmental activities. It would afford small scope for pilitie.al speeches or campaign promises. How could the “outs" ever oust thi‘ "ins’’ by simply preaching industry and evolution ? How r-iiild an ambitious individual over make a public career if there was not somebody or something to he immediately overturned? I‘olities is naturally dynamic. It must promise to do something forthwith. It works by artificial means. There is constant criticism of existing conditions and the temptation to competitive promises, the most appealing of which are promises of benefits by changing the llow of wealth in some manner—redistribution, taxation, restraint or seizure—by interfering in some way with the natural trend of development of affairs. i