Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1943. PARTIES AND THE PEOPLE.
WITII the supplementary rolls closing tomorrow a lact to be noted by any electors who have not yet niat e . they are enroHed-and polling day less than lour wee>ks dista , the amount of interest taken by the average ci ize . A era! election campaign remains a somewhat uncei ami 1 < • • The thoughts of a great many people certainly are ce . more on the war, in its total effect and as it atteU " ® 1 1 " sonally, than on any political issues as these are oh ‘ derstood. One of the dangers and disadvantages of holdin c a election in times like these is that it is liable to be overshadwued and made to seem of little account by momentous mi developments.
Since, however, it has been decided that an eleetl unavoidable, it is the duty of all citizens to take serious itecs in the issues submitted to them for determination, charge of that duty is not made easier but is made more necessary ami more important by the fact that the outlook and the problems the people of this country will have to facein. ■ comparatively near future are m some respects rath ei y r ue ) defined. Even in regard to the re-establishment m civil Jile 01 the members of our fighting forces when the war is over Here is a great deal that has yet to be put Into clear working shape, and contemporaneously rather than as a sequel to the handling of that vital problem others relating to international organisa-tion-even a small country like this must be prepared to play its full part in safeguarding the world against future aggres-sion—post-war trade, immigration and internal economic am social adjustment will claim attention.
It certainly will be the desire of thinking-electors that the present campaign should be conducted on) the high level which was promised from both sides at the final sifting of the House of Representatives and it may be hoped that any descent to the pettiness and futility of party bickering of which too much has been heard in recent sessions of Parliament will awaken only indignation and contempt.
A dispassionate discussion and elucidation of the questions set before the country is the more obviously demanded since a position of broad agreement has been reached on some issues that formerly were contentious. As may be seen from the summary of its policy which was published on Saturday, the National Partv, for example, agrees with its political opponents in declaring that the conditions of depression which prevailed from 1931 to 1935 “need not and shall not be allowed to happen a«ain ” The National Party also proposes vigorous enterprise in housing, though it differs from the Labour Party in pledging itself to make the freehold available to State tenants or others desirous of acquiring it.
Another important branch of policy is or should be made largely non-contentious by the declaration of the National Party in regard to Social Security—“ All existing benefits will be continued and anomalies and injustices removed.” Most people are aware of the injustices and anomalies referred to particularly the unfair treatment of thrifty and industrious people, whose savings are just sufficient to disqualify them in whole oi part from receiving the age benefit. It may be hoped that injustices of this kind will be removed or modified, as time goes on, irrespective of what Government happens to be in office.
In regard to this matter and others, it should never be forgotten that Social Security and other benefits are not the gift° of any political party, but represent an allocation and use of national, resources produced as well as used by the people of the Dominion. The Labour Party of course is entitled to the credit, of having introduced the Social Security scheme as it stands today, but what has been done in this and other departments of social advance was ami is made possible by the people of the Dominion and with them it rests to say what shall be done in future. One way of reducing the foolish acerbities of party warfare, and of building up the kind of Parliament and Government we shall need in the coming days, is to arrive at a clear and true understanding of the place and proportion of political parties in relation to the life ol the community from whom they seek countenance, and support.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 2
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735Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1943. PARTIES AND THE PEOPLE. Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 2
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