CASE FOR THE INDEPENDENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12470, 3 October 1938, Page 7

CASE FOR THE INDEPENDENT.

Sir, —May I have a little space to put the case for the Independent. The four letters published in your paper on Monday make an excellent demonstration of the need of the real Independent. The Independent, firstly, must have a plan which he has worked out for himself. . Then he must have the courage of his convictions regarding that plan, and in no way must he become allied to any party whatever. If however, he finds something in another person’s plan better than his own, then he must consider that plan. Any person who was once an Independent, and then immediately something happens joins a party, never was an Independent. It is the Independent’s job to work strictly according to his ideas for the good of the country. He must also be responsible to his electorate for his actions and be judged by results. No Independent could really make promises before being elected and then try to wriggle out of them afterwards, as that would show a lack of sense of responsibility. Also he should pay his own expenses and that would prevent him from being under anyone’s domination. With the Independent there would be no such thing as spoils to the victors; there would be no such thiong as voting against one’s convictions. In support of the foregoing it is plain that election pledges are useless, as is pointed out by your correspondents. Therefore the elections are a farce, the people not getting what they vote for, hence the bitterness. So long as a party runs the country—no matter whicjr one —the present unhappy conditions will continue, tor have not all parties had a hand in bringing New Zealand to its present chaotic state?