A DANGEROUS POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1931, Page 3

A DANGEROUS POSITION

By X. There is a very important and definite issue to be placed before the electors now within a few days. Is New Zealand to follow the very emphatic lead given by the Mother Country under the leadership of the ex-Labour leader Ramsay MacDonald and re-es-tablish its credit and prosperity on a firm economic basis; or is it to be misled like N.ShWu by elusive promises of irresponsible .politicians, Socialists and Communists and slide down the apparently attractive path which leads to repudiation,, dishonor, and. Rational bankruptcy ? , ! The weakness of democracy is that the main ■ vital issue on which the mandate of the people is required is so often obscured by personal likes and dislikes, and by .numerous side issues, and parochial issues which can never be eliminated hut which cause the real voice of Democracy to be incoherent. The position of this country is now so extremely critical that it was decided— whether wisely or not time can show—to sink for a time the differences between the two responsible political parties—Liberal and Conservative and present a united front to tlve Sociallist-Communist-Radical combination .which has caused such disaster elsewhere and threatens to do the ■same for .N. 55,, ,if given the-chance. In this we are following the lead of Great Brito ip, : .-.i

The intention was good. If the ■Premier had. not ,been a- big man, prepared to stand aside if -. necessjip’, rather than, split .up the- responsible votes on which the future safety-and prosperity of this country depends ,it could 1 never have been given effect; to. But '-unfortunately the lead has nor been followed. Last night saw tne nomiinaitions closed with the following results:— Official Coalition 71 Independent Coalition ... 15 Independent United ... 5 Independent Reform ... 5 Independent Liberal ... 3 Labour 54 Independent Labour ... 31 Independents 25 Country ... ..." ... 6 Communists 2 Women 1 ’ - ETotal 190 So how on earth out of this wetter of conflicting interests a coherent verdict could, be expected, it is hard to realise! If all these candidates go to the poll there will be very serious vote splitting and minority representation in many constituencies, or the revenue will bencfitX by a .substantial. amount through forfeited deposits.

However as a well known writer says -“National character rises, in a spontaneous flood right over the level of party feeling and class prejudice, and swamps a lot of perfectly good plans for its own destruction..” This I has been demonstrated just now in Great Britain, and. ft is to be hoped will be demonstrated equally emphatically in New Zealand. It is an old saying that while you may fool some people for all time,- and all the people for a time you cannot fool all the people for all timet The people of Great Britain".were fooled for a time by Socialistic promises of increase in ’tlie Vdole,” increase of .s.ocia.l services, increase in wages and reduction in :all taxation affecting the “worker,” to be made" up by taxation-—and yet more taxation on the “capitalist.” Finding that these elusive promises were impracticable and were bringing the country to ruin the Socialist-Com-munist crowd have just been ejected with perhaps tlie most forcible and emphatic kick on record in British political history- Exactly the same misleading programme has been adopted by the Holland party. They disregard all that has happened in other countries and promise anything and everything which will bring votes. Jack GaUie promisedi—“there shall .be in England’ seven -half-penny"'loaves sold tor a penny, and all tlie realm shall’ he in common”—we know what happened to Jack Cade.. Lang in Austra.ia won tne election Eforri Bavin by promising that there should be no reduction of threepence in the £on wages which Bavin said was essential: As soon as he was returned however he made a . reduction of a shilling m the £. We don’t know yet what will happen to Lang. I was in N.S.W. only a few months ago and could tell your readers something of the absolutely deplorable state of poverty, distress and suffering over there. But it would be unnecessary as probably all of us know about it. But it is to be hoped the, people of N.Z. wm bear in mind that a state’ of affairs, almost approaching a civil war has been brought about through the people of N;S.W. being, misled by spec*, lous promises of irresponsible politicians.

Though the influx of irresponsive candidates and so-called Independents will apparently obscure the real issue next week and no one can say 'now until the numbers go up what the result will be there is one gratifying result already attained. Four electorates have returned unopposed four Coalition candidates, two of them being the Hons. CobJ)e and Ransom, Ministers in the United Cabinet; Mr Broadfoot (Waitomo), and Mr Williams (Bay of Plenty.) So before the battle starts the Government is four seats to the good. This should prove a good omen.

There is also sign of trouble in *Re “Labour” camp. By! tile “constitutional rule? of the party,”" this or-

ganisation. -is protected"’ against’ “Inde-

pendent,” and accredited candidates have to accept the platform of the party (including Its main plank the socialisation of .means of production, distribution and exchange). But one of the old members of the party, Mr Bartram is standing for < Grey Lynn, as “Independent Labour” and opposing the official Labour candidate. Mr Lee Martin (Ranglaui) , has through the official Labour man he was n o t responsible for what Mr Holland had said on the subject of restoring cuts in salaries. He would not vote for the restoration of the 10 per cent, cut until those out of work were employed. It is evident that some, are not prepared to follow blindly , the election propaganda cunningly drafted ;to appeal to those,;:,who are adversely affected by the , measures which have now to be taken to bring the country back into a state of solvency, security, and re-established-credit. duo’.''

1 have before me an'-"extract from the New Zealand Worker , "supposed I . believe to he the official organ ol’ the Labour Party, in 'which it urges that the Government can make the best use of the resources at its command “by. becoming the only employer, a-s it would of an army. Abolish the use of money for all internal dealings. T'hte best wages are food, clothing “and shelter. Close the banks as banks and put the buildings to some useful purpose; e.g. public dinings "rooms! Note: Nobody would need'to go to a bank, as money would bp useless. A six hour , day! for 1 thd’ maniial 'worker. ' Every .’ family to possess a motor car..’.'Reitrbl ‘ like. 1 all other necessaries would be 'supplied, free in reasonable quantities.” Where on earth could'rubbish, Hire this have' originated? Surely njpjf in New Zealand. ‘