WISE GOVERNMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 6

WISE GOVERNMENT

INTELLIGENT PLANNING NATIONAL COUNCIL PROPOSAL STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY The need for the strengthening of democratic government in New Zealand was stressed by Mr H. Valder, of Hamilton, in an address at the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club today. Mr Valder said that the waste of resources, both human and material, was the besetting sin of the 20th century. The machine age civilisation was in danger of breaking down, said Mr Valder. because the material heritage which nature had provided and the great inventions which human ingenuity had discovered were not being utilised intelligently. The human values which were jeopardised in the incessant striving to master material environment were also not considered. Much of the wastage had occurred simply because people were in a hurry to do things without thinking ahead to see what consequences would follow. When thousands of men acted haphazardly, each seeking his own advantage, the resulting situation was a chaos to which all had contributed, but which none desired. “The plain remedy would seem,” added Mr Valder, “first to preface our actions with some deeper thinking on the problems involved, and secondly to harmonise the activities of those whose interests would otherwise clash. Preliminary study must be followed by co-ordinated endeavour. Neither by itself will suffice.” Study of Social Problems The establishment of an agency, which might be called a National Council, to conduct a continuous study of social problems already existing, or newly emerging in the contemporary world, was advocated by Mr Valder as a means for the foundation of planning a better order. Stating that he was not suggesting the formation of a super-Gov-ernment, Mr Valder said the National Council should have no administrative duties, no jurisdictional powers and no governmental authority. To fulfil its function properly the Council would have to devote itself to study, to research, to planning and to these alone. The composition of the council would be most important. It would have to represent the nation in its broadest aspect. After dealing with various aspects as to numbers on the council, how they were to be elected and other points, Mr Valder concluded by saying that democracy, a mode of government which sets a premium on reason, must provide the tools and implements for critical faculty. The National Council would be merely one such tool.