POLITICS AND PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1928, Page 7

POLITICS AND PARTY

(Auckland Star.)

Among tlie many forms of criticism

Ivanned by Reformers and their

•friends against the United Party is the argument that, even if Sir Joseph Ward and Ids colleagues succeed in putting their proposed legislation through the Mouse, it cannot have a definite and distinctive character. Because the United Party is not strong enough to stand alone, therefore the work that it eventually will do must he of a United-Labour type oi a Unit-ed-Reform brand and this, we are invited to believe, must react injuriously on the interests of the Dominion.

We think that tin’s view ul the political situation is worth noting, because in our opinion it represents a conception of party politics that has run positively mad. It assumes that there are no political or economic or social views held in common by all the parties in the House, and it 'further assumes that it should he the business and the duty of each party to promote only that legislation which expresses its own peculiar partisan views without reference to the welfare of the country regarded as a whole. We protest emphatically against this absurd distortion of the political outlook. We believe that, political parties are an inevitable outgrowth of public life. But we can see not the slightest ground, either in logic or in history, 'for accepting tbe absurd belief that n party is tied down to a policy which must above everything else distinguish it dealU and finally from other parties, or that legislation passed with tbe general acquiescence of all parties in the public interest is for that reason ineffective and undesirable.

Our own view ol political problems and public: lil'o tends in an entirely different direction. We bold that it is the manifest duty of the representatives of the people, in and out ot Parliament, to support such measures as are most conducive to the public welfare, irrespective ol their party oiigin. It is because Liberalism more than any other political creed bears in mind the need for promoting the well-being of all classes and sections of the community at once that it has gained such a strong and permanent hold on the sympathy and confidence of the people of New Zealand. And the Relormers may be reminded that they themselves have paid Liberalism the sincerest possible compliment by borrowing from it some of its most effective projects and expedients and principles. Whether they realise it or not, whatever good work the Reformers have done for this country has been based on te hLiberal policy and the Liberal legislation of the past. We do not blame Reform for this, a,iv more than we blame Mr Holland for admitting frankly that be and bis party will vote for any measures proposed by Sir Joseph Ward that are likely to promote the objects that Labour has in view. The purpose of all legislation should be to secure the interest of the country as a whole, and this characteristic feature of Liberalism is quite incompatible with the narrow partisan idea of public duty which certain Reform organs are now striving to impress upon their followers.