“Taranaki Central Press” FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1937. SCIENCE IN GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 381, 12 March 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1937. SCIENCE IN GOVERNMENT.

If Mr. Parry’s address to the Municipal Conference at Timaru really represents the mind and determination of the Government it may rank as the most important political speech of this generation in New Zealand. Criticism may fasten on the confession that the Government has been working without a complete knowledge of the facts on which policies and programmes should be based, but the habit of governments to legislate first and inquire afterwards is no new thing. What makes the speech so important is that it indicates for the first time an intention to apply the scientific method to administration. A science of government is not likely to be evolved in this century, at any rate in democratic countries, because while people are swayed by emotion and prejudice and votes are dependent on promises, the forces operating are too elusive to admit of definition, but at least the material facts can be assembled and analysed. Political thought has advanced beyond the idea that States are or can be governed efficiently according to the “will of the people" or "public opinion” unless there are systematic means of giving the people the information on which an intelligent opinion can be formed. Of course, even then intelligence and information would not necessarily be the basis on which the "will” is formulated, because prejudices and emotions come into play, but these are invaluable forces. Governments, on the other hand, can be expected to act in the cold light of reason. No doubt behind Mr. Parrv’s promise of a sociological survey of the Dominion there is the Labour Party's desire for government according to some four-year plan or five-year plan, but the application of the scientific method to the study of the conditions of life in the country is sound, whatever use maybe made of the facts in the future, and if the proposed survey is car-ried out by competent and unpre judiced observers it will constitute a notable advance.