The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 192O. TRUSTING THE PEOPLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3628, 15 November 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1920. TRUSTING THE PEOPLE.

With which is iuconx>rat;ed "The Taihape Po*t and Waimarino News "

It is quite- correct to say that the problem of home rule., not alone in connection with Ireland, is one of the most disconcerting questions of the moment. The right of paoples to "selfdetermination" is admitted academically, and theoretically, but in politics it is resented by the old-fashioned governing classes. Allied to self-deter-mination, or home rule, are other important political problems, including Imperial Federation, and the demand for electoral reforms. . In New Zealand self-determination only prevails in name; Government exists upon a comparative minority vote. In Ireland the majority of the. people arc' not permitted to eleet a Government; are not to exercise either voice or vote in self-determination. This condition is not peculiar to Ireland, for neither Wales nor Scotland have been ' given opportunity to express any desire for or against home rule, or self- j determination. There need be, no mis- j Understanding about the inherent de- j

j sire of Welsh and Scoteh, as well as ' Irish, for the right to rule themselves in accordance with their own national desires, and not be compelled- to conform in detail to laws enacted for them by an English, Parliament. Mr-. Lloyd George says: "Some of us may live to see with our own eyes a Wales that is independent and free; a Wales fearing God and no one else.'' ' The Master of Elibank has stated: "Who knew that, with the evolution of Government and the increasingly heavy responsibilities thrown upon the Mother of Parliaments, the time was not far distant when, as in our English-speak-ing commonwealths across the seas, both Saxon and Celt, would be called upon within our shores, and under a Parliamentary system", to give free exercise to that genius of self-govern-ment with which Providence had so endowed them." Scottish members of

J Parliament are advocating home rule ifor Scotland; they say: "Scottish home rule is no less urgent than home ruh for Ireland; that Scotland is frequently legislated for as an afterthought; that however overwhelming the preponderance of opinion may be among Scottish representatives in favour of j any particular social or political rej form, it is rarely possible for the will I of the people of Scotland to secure legislative effect." These and similar statements frequently made are convincing testimony to the fact that laws which give power to minorities "to rule are the very last laws that minority governments are likely to reform, unless it is to more effectually entrench

I minority privilege against all popular movements for electoral equality. Are not claims to possession of majority | rule and self-determination tlie veriI est humbug while a party representI ing only one-third of the people retains I the reins pf government by making' '.promises of .popular electoral reforms I which are abandoned instantly they assume power? And does not'the fact clearly indicate that there was never any real intention in their minds to bring about any electoral reform other than that which would make ! minority

rule doubly secure against <^ % will of the majority? The hearts oFWelshmen burn to bo independent and free, and eliminating-from consideration the few Communists in this Dominion, is not the widespread, grave industrial and social unrest in New Zealand an Herculean struggle for freedom and independence, an effort to shake off the manacles' of minority rule? The Premier of Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, could not conceive what would be the future of the British Empire so long, as it rested upon liberty, equality and justice. "An Empire which rests upon the, sole principle of freedom and local autonomy hns no such future as that of Rome and of Napoleon," That great" Canadian statesman did not risk say-

| ing what the future of the British Em- | pire would probably be if the prin- ; ciple of freedom became a mere shibboleth, and the local autonomy idea ' was suppressed by minority govern- | ment. Where is man's power, even ! in New Zealand, to give law to himself? Is not his right to self-govern-ment usurped by men who have made ■ laws destructive of the principle of freedom and of local autonomy? It seems that if the future of Britain goes the road which the Roman and Napoleonic Empires went it will be because the people were not trusted; because the popular will was stifled and suppressed. When America was virtually refused the right of self-determin-ation it seceded, and if Canada's demand for self-government had not been conceded, there, would have been no British dependency in North America, nndMt is apparent that the time is not far distant when both Scotland and Wales will have to be granted the right to rule themselves in accordance with the peculiar national desires of their people. The people are not j trusted by minority governments, and ' the people are not unaware of that I fact, and until they are trusted indus- j trial and social unrest will continue,

I become more determined and bitter, . until a state of revolution is reached. There is no mistaking the lesson in Ireland. Statesmen, especially experienced, express opinions on such questions, including Mr. Augustine Birrell, who says: r, To drag Ireland in the wake of England was downright stupid (policy." The British Government are i too well aware of the truth of Mr. Birrell's statement now, but they

fought, against the principle involved till it was too late to bring about a I peaceful solution of the Irish right to self-government. Federation of Empire has been all too slow "in ripening, and the same principle, whether it be the trusting of communities, classes or individuals, has been so long deferred that it has become doubtful whether a peaceful adoption of the principle of freedom and local autonomy is now practicable. The question of Imperial Federation- is being delayed in what • looks like relegation to the political scrap-heap. The proposed and much-' talked-about Imperial Council is deferred to the uncertain future, and the position is-being Camouflaged by holding another Imperial Conference which has little likelihood of being more useful than those of the past. The people are threatened iby minority governments, with dire consequences of their chafing against rrSinority legislation; 1 but are the masses of the people likely to take calmly any such threats? Are not boastings by minorities about what they will do likely to make unrest amongst the masses more widespread j and bitter by driving them into the camps of Communism? Has not history over and over again proved that the voice of the people will prevail? ! If so, would not the Empire's future | be assured and rendered more brilliant

by the adoption of governing principles which do not-privilege the few and dispossess the many'of that freedom and equality before and under the law they arc constitutionally entitled to? The failure to evolve a more homogeneous and peaceful Empire is obviously owing to minority Governments shaping their legislation against home rule; against self-determination; against the principles of freedom and autonomy; against any desire for a Federated Empire. Departure from the principles of freedom and autonomy has rendered the Irish problem all but iusolvable; and may not something similar later occur with the Scottish and Welsh problems. If an electoral system pervaded with common honesty is not established amongst all British peoples it is doubtful whether the full blast of popular resentment can be avoided. No dishonest policy of ex7iefliency can do more than defer the day of reckoning. The evil must be cut out at its source. *. j