PRINCIPLES AND INTERESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1921, Page 6

PRINCIPLES AND INTERESTS.

CONDITIONS OF NEW ZEALAND POLITICS. WANTED A RE-ALIGNMENT OF PARTIES. When we sit down and quietly consider the condition of our country’s politics at the present time we are disposed to become either sad or angry. The extent to which small play, in the way of personal considerations, enters into our national life must be a matter of concern to the thinking portion of our population. Theoretically the affairs of this Dominion are being dealt with under a party system of government but in practice, we all know, they are considerably governed by considerations of personal influence and power. The party, and this applies to all of the parties, has become rather too much the mere servitor of a few dominant persons. The question of what constitutes a party, or what should constitute such, ought to be clearly defined in the minds of our people. Is a party, for instance, merely a combination of individual politicians who wish to advance their own political interests by acting together instead of separately. That idea of party is clearly on a very low plane since it would leave the state at the mercy of cabals and factions moved by no higher considerations than the personal desires and ambitions of the members of the same. On this line of party the nation would be liable to constant injury from the conflicts of petty interests seeking power but little responsibility. This brings us to the consideration, of whether true party organisation should be grouped around l some particular personal or sectional interests, or whether “party” should be a synonym for political organisation which is built upon the affirmation of principles of statecraft, having direct practical relation to the needs and activities of the nation as a whole. In our opinion it is only where the basis of principle is made the foundation of party organisation that the party system of government is truly justified. OUR PRESENT POSITION. To-day we have three parties in Parliament—named Reform, Liberal, Labor—and, in addition, a combined group of Independents and several unattached individual politicians. There is more of complexity, if .not confusion, in the politics of our country now than ever there has been in the past. It is no reflection on the parties to say that none of their names properly define what they are, or what they are likely to do. When the situation is analysed we think the standing of the parties may be placed thus:— REFORM.—This party is attached mainly to the large producing interests of the country and has developed great strength from its plea of “safety first,” which makes a very strong appeal in/ times of special stress. LIBERAL. —This party has drawn its support mainly from the industrial and small producing interests. It has been handicapped in the way of pressing for expansion during the times which are marked with uncertainty. LABOR.—This party rests mainly on the appeal to th? class interests of industrial operatives and condemnation of other interests. It is more properly a Socialist or Communist Party than one of Labor in the broad sense of typifying service. As is well known Sir James Allen and others said “there is little difference in principle between the Reform and Liberal parties.” Our view is that there is little difference- in principle but rather upon interests of section and class. We do not mean by this that they will all ignore the nation, the State would be in very hard straits were that the case. Our view is rather that th 4 have not found it necessary to clearly define to the people of the Dominion what are the specific national principles and politics for which they stand, and show how these apply to the practical issues which the Dominion has to face. { RE-ALIGNMENT OF PARTIES. There has been talk of another party coming into existence. What we would prefer to see is a re-alignment of existing parties. The tnree factors of thought that are manifest within the body politic of our country to-day appear to us to be three:— A. The thought that seeks to hold our institutions just as they are and use same for conserving the unity and stability of the nation. B. The -thought that seeks to expand and gradually change the institutions of our time to meet fresh needs arising from the enlightenment of the people. C. The thought that is anxious to, abolish existing institutions and substitute experiment towards the creation of a new form of State. The drawing together of people who have honest convictions on the line of one of these classes of thought would give us defined parties of set principles. This in our opinion would prove inspiring to the people as a whole. Instead of interminable squabbles over persons and interests there would be clearly known cases to fight for. The indifference of masses of our people towards politics is often referred to. Are not the politicians to blame? Give our people clear issues and a definite cause to fight for and they will then show a live interest which will then be of real benefit to the Dominion. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).