The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1917. GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 28 July 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1917. GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

Toloratibn of oligarchial (forms of Gcvernment is at the root of the world's unrest. The Chronicle has said this a score of times during the Lvt two years; but it cannot be said too often. Germany's. Russia's and Austria's forms are glaring examples of vviluit we refer to; and there are others on the Continent that are only rcilaitivoily less harmful. The existence of tliese, and the devotion of their heads to the world-old dicta of administration methods that were dcirived from the old Romans —thati •ri.ee of national butchers and slavsmakers, —is at the base of tho present great war. Probably there .vill he ■,var in tho world for hundreds iof years ;yet to come; but beyond doubt ti.e risk of war could be xauiimised. .It would be minimised if the people who in these days have opportunities ■by their votes / to place strong and unemotional men at the head of public affair* would do so. And there is the more likelihood of this procedure being proved effective now that the oligarchial Governments of Europe, by their crowned heads in two instances, and by virtue of revolution in a third instances, hare set forward' the pttte qf tlieiir -political restrictions.; iUussia ibids far to emerge! from her present crisis possessing a franchise more enlightened thian that of other countries; and however and whenever tlvp war may end, Germany will secure for herself a broader franchise than that which Prussia forced upon her after the bloody wars of tho 'sixties which culminated in the German Confederacy being established practically yn its present form. Great Hritain, too, must gain for hersell, a greater degree of liberty; we have that on the authority of the present Primri Minister of Great Britain. But what will he the fruit? That will depend upon the people's' appreciation of tihe great potential power given , thorn. Here in \e\v Zealand the people have been in possession of of as I/ibersl a franchise, and of as perfect a set of. Statutes, as almost one might desire. In the last twelve months we have

seen these Statutes twisted and set at nought by a parcel of mediocrities of all parties which holds office as "The Coalition Government." 'In a do-, minion that is banded together with other parts of the British Empire to prevent the triumph of liberty-strang-ling forces sucli as those opposed to Great Britain and her Allies in the present war, we see liberty-choking Regulations given the force of law b(y. the Coalition Government. What is the basic cause of this "unsound administration P Wo have said it a half-a-dozen times already; we repeat it: it is the election in peace times of representatives unfit to rule: and by these representatives the ru'erare elected. It is the same spirit of "letting things, run along easily ' that gives to the country, in time of war, the ineffective control of pawky medoerities. "The people always get the representatives they cesorve," runs a political axiom; but (at f.t preseint) when they are deprived cf their rights to reverse their former judgment as to fitness of representatives. the axiom rings false.