The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1921. AUSTRALASIAN DEMOCRACY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1921. AUSTRALASIAN DEMOCRACY.

Lord Bryce has recently written a book on “Modern Democracy,” and a condensed summary of his analysis of the political and economic history of Australia and ; New Zealand has been recently published as cabled from London. It may be assumed that the cablegram contained the salient points of the author’s views, and though the, context may offer some explanation as to the reasons which led to the conclusions expressed, that in no way detracts from the interest which attaches to those conclusions. For nearly a quarter of a century Lord Bryee was Pro; feasor of Civil Law at Oxford University ; he was foi some years British. Ambassador at Washington, after which he made a long tour and saw for himself the effect of democracy in the Dominions. Few people are better equipped for an enlightened study of such a subject as democracy than this distinguished scholar, diplomatist and statesman, among whose writings the “American Commonwealth” is regarded as a classic. At the same time he is, unconsciously permeated with the atmosphere of Oxford and the sentiments of the governing classes, though his analytical mind enables, him to probe the merits and demerits of democratic government. An impartial study of Lord Bryce’s views can only lead to the j conclusion that while,he is not antagonistic, to democratic government, it lacks the essentials of University training and a rich leisured class to which Britain has been accustomed for a long period of years, besides which, in his own view, it fails to solve the problem of the government of the whole people with fairness to the whole people, thus giving an unneeded proof that any dominating class always governs in its own interests. History clearly proves the truth of this contention, so that the main point for consideration is how to secure the best form of government that will further the interests of the greatest number of the people governed- British political history furnishes striking proof of the long and bitter struggle by the masse sfor a voice in the government of the country, 'while the Dominions were able to profit by the result of that struggle and carve out their own destiny on independent democratic lines. Theoretically the principle of democracy in Australasia has reached its apex, though there are certain details as to representation that are still matters of controversy. ,

Under such circumstances there would seem to be no room for the Labor disputes and industrial upheavals, which are only too evident, as government by the people, for the people, should mean a united effort by all classes to promote the welfare of the whole community. That it does not work out in this desirable way is no fault of democracy, but to the strenuous efforts of a section of the people to dominate all others and rush them headlong into anarchy and chaos. The aim of the Labor extremists is to side-track democracy so as to give a clear road for Communism and Socialism, and it is against these inimical forces that the true power and spirit of democracy have to contend with all their might and resources. When speaking at Hawera on Thursday, Mr. Massey reiterated the truism that “there was too much policy and too little patriotism.” The moral of that, sentiment is exactly the same as the opinion expressed by Lord Bryce when he said that the dominating class always governs in its own interest. Paradoxical as this may seem, its truth cannot be refuted, possibly because it is the primal instinct of human nature that still sways mankind—the law of brute force. Lord Bryce ‘lays considerable stress on the deficiency of education and narrowness of the generality of Australian parliamentarians, as well as the harmfulness caused by payment of members. This shows how much he is impregnated by the old ideals of the governing classes in Britain. Yet he has only to look at the present industrial conditions in the Motherland, where there are highly educated hereditary legislators and parliamentarians largely composed of wealthy classes, the produce of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, in order to discover that such advantages do not give any better result “in the government of the whole people with fairness to the whole people,” than in the Dominions where these so-called advantages are mostly conspicuous by their absence. If Lord Bryce had spent as long a period in New Zealand as he has in Britain it is quite possible he would have obtained a different viewpoint, but none the less there are points in his views that are well worthy of attention, particularly concerning the caucus system and State enterprises. It is evident he has a high opinion of the natural and mental vigor and physical activity of the people, and their predeliction for sports and open-air life, but there can be no question that he regards the system of democratic government with little favor. The Dominions, however, are still in the making. At present they _ are passing through an exceptional phase that needs much tact and statesmanship to emerge satisfactorily. The men who have built up the Dominions to their present high status may not possess scholastic attainments of high degree, but they have met with remarkable success, and may be trusted to carry on the work with equal if not greater success in the future-