CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2959, 7 November 1925, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor)

Sir. —Now that the smoke of battle has disappeared from the political field, I would take this opportunity of expressing an opinion of the result. In the first place the Liberals have met just the treatment that they could expect, after their action in jettisoning the remnant, and the name, of the once great national party, and I await the result of the first clash of the political parties when the House assembles with interest. That they have received a just verdict from the people, patent, as also is the fact that the country will not tolerate a party that is prepared to sell its political soul, and, at the same time, ignore those whom they should have first consulted. Then there is the Labour Party. They must also take the result of the elections as a verdict from the people that, if they wish to succeed on the political field, they must evolve a policy, more in keeping with the aspirations of the people in thought and action, and less revolutionary in tlieir efforts to bring about a change in the political thought of this young country. As representatives of the workers in New Zealand, they should remember that it is best to adopt themselves to the political aspirations of this country, rather than the affo ; “ Q a foreign state. Also to. the remember, that playing \v will surely result in a bui

fingers, as the recent S: strike so surely proved. Ii doubt, a noble action for am or sections of people to assis. other, when assailed, and theirv is first, but, on the other hand)*

an injustice to the people, v others, who are not even inly*

ants of a country, to throw tK

dustries, and business of the py into a state of chaos and disorganisation and themselves to escape the result of their stupid actions, leaving us to pay the piper. While the Labour Party says they believe in constitutional action and government they must also awake to the fact- that the great majority of the people also believe in it, and 1 think I can safely say, that so long as the Labour Party are going to allow themselves to be dragged at the heels of any irresponsible section or class that attempts to adjust their wrongs, real or imaginary, by force, so long will that party keep on leaving mile stones behind them, and keep on chasing th shadow and missing the substam lt is purely a matter of getti. down to fundamentals and eornmo sense, and also a matter of droj ping that parasite that is at present eating into the very vitals of the Labour movement ail over the world —the Communist element. That the people of this country have national aspirations, has proved

this election, and those members of the community who thought New Zealand was going to see red no doubt . to-day are feeling very blue. Laws will never be written in dur time, or in anvone-olse’s time, that will satisfy" all the people. The LabourParty must know that not ouly must it adopt itself to current political thought hut it must also recognise the fact that it will never adopt the people to —while they present their present policy in the main, —trust them with the Government of this country. We are a nation in the making, and we must provide the means to maintain our integrity from assault. Their policy is minus that means and pacific methods, will be useless in this respect, until the human being is taught, and horn to practice pacific methods, which will never be. I take it that all members of the human race are hold sacred, and so it

applies to us as a nation. Here also is the question of the greatest good to the greatest number, and to bring this about while we have a three party system in vogue is an impossibility. Would it not be more in keeping for all parties to realise the futillity of the system that brings about that state of affairs, that sets class against class, engendening, hatred and jealousy, among the massess; that feeling which fosters an idea that tiie wealthy are getting wealthier and the poor are getting poorer; that feeling that makes one think he is being neglected as far as his aspirations are concerned, and what better can foster those feelings than, if in the Parliament of the land, that petty bickering, and jealousy of office, is taking place. Today we have a party in power that says it is out in the interest of all. Time alone will prove that, but how can it be done, unless each and all in the House set that example, by putting aside their differences, and get together in the interest of all the people as a whole. Meanwhile Labour must moderate its policy and follow a little more closely the trend and aspirations of all the people and cast aside the idea of sweeping the country, by other than evolutionary methods. Thanking you, Sir,

E. G. MARTIN.