Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News THURSDAY, 10 JUNE, 1909. THE COMING PARLIAMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4422, 10 June 1909, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News

THURSDAY, 10 JUNE, 1909. THE COMING PARLIAMENT.

Jhou canst not then be falxe to any man Shakespeare.

We are not likely to lie contradicted when we allege that the approaching Parliament, which is expected to assemble at Wellington to-day will not attract anything like the attention in many towns and hamlets in New Zealand which an approaching circus or football match would. Possibly some persons may regard that a« a satisfactory proof that the pjoplo are well governed, and enjoy an abundance of civil and religious liberty. Others may consider it to be evidence of political indifference, a want of patriotism, and a failure to realiso the true significance of Parliament. Think for a moment of the great powers the people have entrusted to members of the Legislature. We have entrusted theta with nearly {

tint makes life wortu Tli. v can 1< - slate on e luoathe Milling.', marriage, the |, gal relation between i usband ami wit'e nnd ptn-ntu an l childien, also on unis'es and servants, principal, and agents, partnership <l.-bt, credit, insurance, contracts, wil s, trusts corporate bodies, etc., in fact, all things pertaining to life. That being so, how foolish it is, how blind to a people’s welfare it is to be indifferent to the politics of one s coun'ry. A responsibility devolves upon every adult person in a community to watch with intelligent in- • erest the proceedings in Parliament. Unfortunately what is everybody’s business is deemed nobody’s business, and therefore legislation is allowed to drift without that interest, in, and criticism by the people which would stimulate our members to do tlrnir utmost for the country. Too many representatives take only a perfunctory interest in their duties: and they would be quickened to better endeavours if the people would exercise proper supervision over them. We can quite imagine some people saying:—“ Bother Politics! We have got our business to attend to. Certainly. All of us have business to attend to, of one kind or another ; but none of us can really afford to neglect politics. One of the greatest of English philosophers, over whose grave the grass has but recently grown green, said : “ The man who expanding his energies wholly on private affairs, refuses to take trouble about public affairs, pluming himself on his wisdom in minding hia own business, is blind to the fact that hia own business is made possible only by maintaining a healthy social state, and that he loses all round by defective Governmental arrangements.” Yes ; history teems with warnings. In those countries where the people abandon themselves to pleasure or monoy making, and leave politics only to professional politicians, their lives and liberties and property become jeopardised, and they find to their sorrow when it is too late that their neglect of politics has cost them a ruinously high price. It is anticipated that Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey, leader of His Majesty’s Opposition, will proceed to the Imperial Defonco Conference, and it is difficult to see how Parliament can do much important business. We certainly had hoped that something practical would have been done about local defence, native lands, public finance, and preferential trade within the Empire; but there is not much prospect of anything nationally effective being done. However,, we shall see. Some members will insist on proceeding with the work of the session. It is notJSir Joseph Ward s fault that the Conference will sit at a time inopportune for New Zealand, and we are so convinced of the very serious necessity for attending to imperial defence, that we consider it to be in the interests of New Zealand that she should be wcil represented at the Imperial Conference. Not for three generations has the British Empire been in such a political crisis as it is to-day. Within the next two years we may have to pass through the storm and stress of trials such as will test the very best manhood throughout the w&ola empire. &et us see to it that we be in a position to keep the flag flying. Let us nerve ourselves to all necessary, brave endeavours, so that in the crucial days that will try us as gold is tried in the i'nrpace, we may not be found wanting.