A DEMOCRATIC DANGER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1929, Page 7

A DEMOCRATIC DANGER

(ByX.) "Nile tlie civil servants are quite Within their rights in protesting through their organisations against "hat they consider an injustice in not having salary cuts, made by the previous government, reinstated by the preosent government, a sinister aspect, of political significance, has been given to the matter by the action of Messrs Crates and Holland. The leader of the Socialist - Communist Labor Unionist party might of course have been expected to take advantage of the position. Jt has been the work of his lifetime to foster discontent and use it for political purposes. But that the ex-Premier, I who knows what political responsibility means, and who when in power was responsible for a certain course of action should now, when in opposition, offer I ns a political bribe to undo what he I had done and to give again what he had I taken away shows to what a dangerously sordid level party politics has fallen. J The Hutt by-election is, owing to the,l peculiarly even state of parties of more importance ttiail A would otherwise he the case. ,If itywere a straight out \ fight between Liberal and ... so-called Labor representative' there-'' would be little doubt that Mr AVilfr/rd would ho followed byb anothev/'” United Liberal, representative—Mr/' Kerr. But the I dice are loaded against any straight i out expression of the will of the demo- | cracy. Reform has a candidate in the 1 field—allegedly a strong candidate —in

Mr Johnston, who, while not at all like.

iv to lie returned, is more than likely to effectively split votes and put the Labor candidate in. If he is not, single-handed, able to do this an .Independent has to come in to make assurance doubly sure. It is no wonder that those who, realizing what disaster it would mean to New Zealand to allow its destinies to fall into the hands of a party led by Messrs Holland, Semple, and If razor, arc annoyed that such risk should he run. Of course even if the Hutt electorate is lost to the Liberal Party—and it will not be the fault of Reform if it is not—it does not mean that the Holland Labor-Unionist party is really any nearer their goal of occupancy of the Treasury Benches. In fact the ultimate result may prove quite different. If it only awakens tie people to the fact that the day of Reform is over, and that every vote give; to this party is merely a vote for tin Holland party the country could afford to lose the seat. But otherwise tin loss of the seat by the Government tr either Reform or Labor would he disastrous.

Under the three party system as bar been pointed out. while the Liberal, 01 Centre' Party—the party df progress and vet of moderation —retains centre of the situation it is quite right thal the conservative clement —the protector of vested interests and- the opponent of any 'tendency toward Socialism or l Communism should be represented. Tt is also perhaps advisable that the Radical element, as a constant spur to progress and an antidote to the lethargy which sometimes overtakes any government, should have due representation. But Conservative government

always means stagnation and protection

of the wealthy—more’ particularly the wealthy land-owner—at the expense of the people generally. Anyhow New Zealand has had enough of it and is no more likely intentionally to put the Coates party hack into power than to hand over control to Socialists, Communists, or Labour Union agitators. lint what the intention of the people may be and what their verdict may he under the present electoral system may :<■ entirely different. in tin* multiplicity of political parties and the fact that irresponsible individuals can come 'nrward, confuse issues, split votes, md make tbe voice of the democracy /coherent there is a danger which sooner or later will require not only to be more- clearly realized but'to be graphed with. Yi'helhcr Parliament as ow constituted—or rather with its resept personnel—can Ik' trusted to ring down some practical system of lectora! reform may he an open quesion. But there will certainly he a videspread agitation for this once it is leaflv realized how the welfare of the •mmtry is endangered by the present liscreditable party tactics. The Reorm Party might well have stood aside indec present conditions and allowed the issue to he fought out squarely as between the Liberals and the Lnbnrr’nionist party. The fact that they have not done so will he remembered against them if as seems only too nossihle—-if not probable—the seat is lost to the Government and the Holland party secures it.