LIBERALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 3

LIBERALISM.

i (To the F.ditor.) I Sir.—Now that the doors have closed I upon the debating arena of the New Zealand Parliament after the historic special session of 1023 it will give the electors of this country an opportunity to relict over the situation created by ! their votes of December 7. The Reform Government has been spared on the noconfidence motion, but that does not mean that it will be able to car-ry on the affairs of this country for the full three i years, and it is more than probable that Iwe will he faced with another election i within a year. If such proves to he the I case many of the battle cries that were used against the Liberals at the last election must be retracted as recent events have very clearly shown them to be without foundation in fact. The , debate carried on by the Liberals on j their amendment to the Address-in-Reply has very forcibly demonstrated i that Liberalism is by no means dead nor is it the back number that the Reform j Government and the Holland party tried 'to make people believe. On the conj trary, it has shown that it is ready to act along eon% itutioual lines and to en- ! sure that progressive and humanitarian j legislation is placed upon the statute . book even though it does not at the j moment occupy the treasury benches. I The result of the elections has dearly shown that electoral reform is necessary and already the Leader of the Opposition hus exacted a promise from Mr. Massey that this will he OroujWn down early next session so that we can look forward to getting true representation according to the voting in the future. There seem* to he no doul.f that the Liberal -star i- in the a-cen-dant. and with the very powerful lighting force that it ha- In ii- rank* at the present time augurs "ill for the future lot" this country. I.ibf-ralism exerts its ; influence in advancing the thing- that it I con.-idors worthy, ami its general policy jis simple and not at all difficult to follow faithfully. It is based on fairness. ! decency, and truth, and advocate- and I champions what it believes to be just | and right and of good repute, and when jii criticises anything it is chiefly I because it does not seem to be fair or I right or worthy. Liberalism is founded on honesty, and owing its success to integrity and service, it stands for those I things that are good and helpful and j broad and fair, and against those things j that are bad and narrow and selfish and harmful and unjust. It advocates what it believes to he right and opposes what it believes to be wrong. I.iberali-m holds that no combination of capitalists or organisation of workers should be allowed to throttle ft.,- industry of this country. liecatise it cannot have its own way. Any group can g.-t its own way here if it can < vitice the majority, ft is as the happy mean between the two extremes that Liberalism (rains ;„' strength and thereby is enabled to exert it.- inlllieiice lor good, for cheerfulness. for amity, and for genuine progress throughout the hind. Liberalism warrants the hope that a public opinion is developing throughout this eountrv that will pull us eventually out of the -lough of selfishness and narrowne-s into which we have allowed ourselves to be dragged, and will" place us once more as close as circumstances will allow to that place of high endeavour ami aspiration to which we attained throiidi ;]„. unifying effects of a supreme -mi-.],. that appealed to the l,e-t thai i- in "our national conscience and otic .Ic-tinv. I am : etc., K. S. .MORTON.