WAR HARDSHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 December 1939, Page 9

WAR HARDSHIP

THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN

In times of war there must be hardship and inconvenience, but sometimes regulations arc severe and the average citizen, while willing to bear burdens, does not want them unnecessarily irksome. On this point the Economist remarks:—"The freedom of the governed to' complain" is only one-half of the democratic process; the "readiness of rulers to redress" is the other, and it would be an ill service to the public weal now to claim that there is nothing for the Government to put right forthwith. rhe instances are many and obvious where remedies are needed. After slating cases, the Economist proceeds:—The danger is not only that lack of information leads to widespread complaints, many of them, in fact, over-stated. It leads to lack of confidence as well. Silence is never taken for strength in politics. Quite certainly, policy will be presumed to be lacking when it is no made known; it will be feared that the nation's resources are being permitted to run to waste behind a smoke-screen of bureaucratic activity. The British people are united in their loyalty and determination. It is only a lead they are looking for. From the Government it is intelligence they require—in both its senses. They call for the foresight and comprehensive vision which determines the margin between victory and defeat in war, and the clear proof in frequent official statements of fact, and intentions that this foresight and vision are continually in play.