LEANING ON THE GOVERNMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2633, 15 September 1923, Page 4

LEANING ON THE GOVERNMENT.

FALSE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY. When we say there is a false idea of democracy in vogue we do not mean that- democracy is false it is merely most sadly misunderstood. To a great body of citizens democracy is but a question of numbers. Who lias the majority? What does the largest number want? What does the majority stand for? These are the questions commonly asked, as if answers to the same would land us safely on the road of wisdom. An outsider, if there is such, might consider that we were dealing with the subject of mathematics rathei”than sociology from the great stress „laid upon numbers. It is a false mechanical conception of democracy that enchains most of our minds leading us to forget the real spirit and purpose of the thing we speak of. From this misconception of true democracy, meaning thereby self-government, we are naturally drawn -into the other great error of looking eternally to the Government for our social salvation as being the authority which for the time being represents the greatest majority. The habit of leaning on the Government, or looking to it for everything; expecting it to do for us many things which we can actually do better for ourselves by voluntary and associated effort —this has become an absolute curse to the people of New-'Zealand. It is sapping the self-reliance, initiative and capacity of our- people. Do we want health: we must run to the Government ■ and 'demand more expenditure —unmindful of the fact that we make most of - our 'own illness as private citizens and can prevent same better than any government or other experts. For- our children we look to the Government and Institutions to do so much that in many instances the State appears to be more the parent than the individual. It is the same with our farming, trade, commerce and industry. If anything is wanted we do not set about the matter of providing it ourselves, but forthwith demand from the Government some special protection; some new Board of Control; fresh regulations; special 'laws' and, wherever-there is a chance, some form of grant, subsidy or other material aid. It is said at times that the Government is weak. What power would not become weak and confused with everybody leaning on it? The Government gets blamed, with many party cries, for not doing its work effectively, but then, it is bombarded perpetually with requests to do the work which private citizens can do themselves so that Ministers of the Crown, Administrators, and staffs have not time for their own proper functions. One result of the constant calls upon the Government is that we prevent those in power from giving full and adequate attention to large questions of policy by requiring them to act as servitors of numerous sectional interests and having their minds concentrated on matters of detail or minor importance.

At one time we used to hear America spoken of as a country whose people are really great on voluntary effort, individual initiative, personal organisation and general progress in a community spirit. They are at the present time doing many things by methods of voluntary co-opera-tion which the people in British lands are requiring their Government to do for them.

Are we losing our British individuality, stamina and push that for nearly everything we want we must call on the political machine as if it were a mundane deity which must needs answer all our prayers? To organise our meat industry, dairying industry, fruit industry and so on we call upon the Government'. From State organisation to State control is but a short step, indeed the gap is bridged already by Government representation on the Boards of Control. Again from State control to State ownership is the next step advocated by a growing party of political opportunists who swear by mass control and have little regard for personal freedom. The whole course of leaning on the Government, calling on the State, looking to the political machine instead of cultivating personal character, initiative, capacity and aptitude is due to a wrong idea of what democracy means. The more we lean the less able are we to stand erect. The more we rest on the machine the less are we able or will - ing, to do for ourselves. Lincoln’s famous definition “government of the people, for the people and by the people” has been translated to read, “government of the people, by the politicians, and for the people” become for the politicians and political interests.

A halt -should be called on State interference. A return is required to sane democracy which puts character and capacity before numbers. Personal freedom, cultivation and enterprise cannot be sacrificed and democracy retained.. Every step in that direction leads to some form of autocracy—dictatorship of a class or of the mass, but ever dictatorship—that is the danger we have to face. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).